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Functional electrical stimulation training on functional capacity and blood pressure variability in a centenarian
Bruna Eibel1, Graciele Sbruzzi, Thiago Dipp
1Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, Instituto de Cardiologia do Rio Grande do Sul, Fundação Universidade de Cardiologia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Background:
Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is a rehabilitation method that can revert alterations provoked by aging, such as reductions in functional capacity and modifications on blood pressure variability (BPV).
Objectives:
To evaluate the training effects of FES on functional capacity and BPV in a centenarian woman.
Methods:
A 101-year-old woman without previous disease underwent FES training for 12 weeks, with three 40 min sessions/week. FES was applied at a frequency of 20 Hz with a 0.5 ms pulse, 5 s contraction time, 10 s relaxation time, the maximum tolerable intensity and with progressive overload. Functional capacity was assessed with a six-minute walk test (6MWT) and proximal lower limb strength was assessed with a sit-and-stand test (STST). BPV was measured by continuous recording of pulse pressure and calculated by spectral analysis. All variables were measured before and after FES training.
Results:
After training there was a 70% increase in distance walked in the 6MWT, a 300% increase in the number of STST repetitions, an 8 mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and a 4 mmHg reduction in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean blood pressure (MBP). Reductions in SBP (11.8 mmHg²), DBP (2.3 mmHg²) and MBP (6.0 mmHg²) variability were also observed.
Conclusions:
Three months of FES training improved functional capacity and BPV in a centenarian woman.
