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Assessment of Neuromuscular Function Using Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

Assessment of Neuromuscular Function Using Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

Published on: September 13, 2015

Variable stimulation patterns in younger and older thenar muscle.

Barbara M Doucet¹, Lisa Griffin

¹Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA. bmdoucet@utmb.edu

Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology : Official Journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology

|January 10, 2012

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Variable pulse patterns in neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) significantly boost hand muscle force in all adults. Older adults exhibited less fatigue, suggesting optimized NMES protocols for rehabilitation.

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Area of Science:

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES)
Rehabilitation Science
Geriatric Medicine

Background:

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is a common rehabilitation therapy for older adults.
Optimal NMES stimulation patterns for maximizing force and minimizing fatigue in older adults are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the effects of variable NMES stimulation patterns on force production and neuromuscular fatigue in the hand's thenar muscles.
To compare these effects between younger and older adults.

Main Methods:

Three submaximal NMES patterns were applied to the thenar muscles: constant 20Hz frequency, increasing 20-40Hz frequency, and doublet pulses (two 5ms pulses).
Measurements included average force and force-time integrals (FTIs) during isometric contractions.
Neuromuscular fatigue was assessed after fatiguing stimulation protocols in both younger and older adults.

Main Results:

Doublet pulse NMES patterns significantly increased average forces and FTIs compared to constant and increasing frequency patterns in both age groups.
Older adults demonstrated less neuromuscular fatigue than younger adults following the fatiguing NMES protocols.

Conclusions:

Variable pulse NMES patterns, particularly doublet pulses, enhance hand muscle force production more effectively than constant frequency patterns in both younger and older individuals.
Older adults may possess greater fatigue resistance to electrical stimulation, a crucial consideration for designing NMES rehabilitation strategies for this population.