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Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Paradigms of Lower Extremity Electrical Stimulation Training After Spinal Cord Injury
Published on: February 1, 2018
Neuro-muscular electrical stimulation training enhances maximal aerobic capacity in healthy physically active adults
Domenico Crognale1, Louis Crowe, Giuseppe Devito
1School of Physiotherapy and Performance Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. domenico.crognale@ucd.ie,
Abstract:
Previous research has shown that a novel form of neuro-muscular electrical stimulation (NMES) can be used to bring about aerobic training effects in sedentary adults and in patients with heart failure. However, it is not clear whether this form of NMES could induce a significantly strong cardiovascular exercise effect in a more active group where a greater stimulus is required for training. In this study we investigated the aerobic training effects of repeated exposure to low frequency NMES in a group of physically active healthy adults. Results demonstrated a clinically and statistically significant training response following 18 trainings sessions, suggesting that this form of NMES has a role to play in cardiovascular exercise training in a physically active healthy population.
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