Is transcutaneous electrical muscle stimulation an alternative for preventing acquired muscle weakness in the

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 24, 2026

Monitoring Lung Function with Electrical Impedance Tomography in the Intensive Care Unit
05:56

Monitoring Lung Function with Electrical Impedance Tomography in the Intensive Care Unit

Published on: September 6, 2024

6.1K

Paulo Magalhães1,2, Bárbara Bernardo Figueirêdo1, Alanna Vasconcelos1

  • 1Department of Physical Therapy, Pernambuco University, Petrolina, Pernambuco, Brazil.

Pediatric Pulmonology
|May 29, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Transcutaneous electrical muscle stimulation (TEMS) shows promise for pediatric intensive care unit acquired weakness (PICUAW). This review highlights its effectiveness in children with neurological disorders, suggesting potential for broader application with further research.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric intensive care
  • Rehabilitation medicine
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Transcutaneous electrical muscle stimulation (TEMS) is used in adults to prevent muscle atrophy in intensive care units (ICUs).
  • Limited research exists on TEMS application in pediatric ICUs.
  • A scoping review was conducted to identify research gaps and inform future studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current applications of TEMS for pediatric intensive care unit acquired weakness (PICUAW).

Main Methods:

  • A literature search of online databases was performed for studies published between 2006 and 2016.
  • Selected studies included participants under 18 years old and focused on musculoskeletal or cardiorespiratory outcomes.
  • The review synthesized findings from six clinical trials involving 218 pediatric outpatients.

Main Results:

  • TEMS protocols varied in intensity and duration, with a trend towards high intensity and short duration.
  • The primary application of TEMS was in pediatric neurological disorders.
  • TEMS demonstrated effectiveness in improving spasticity, bone mineral density, disability, and gait compared to sham interventions. One study showed improved VO2 with combined TEMS and cycling for spine injury.

Conclusions:

  • TEMS is effective and safe for addressing musculoskeletal and cardiorespiratory impairments in children with neurological disorders.
  • Individualized TEMS protocols may help prevent PICUAW, despite differing pathophysiology in outpatients.
  • Further research is necessary to confirm the effectiveness of TEMS for PICUAW.
Abstract

Keywords:
intensive care unitintensive care unit acquired weaknessneuromuscular dysfunctionphysical therapytranscutaneous electrical muscle stimulation

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Advancing Varicocele Treatment with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation03:19

Author Spotlight: Advancing Varicocele Treatment with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation

Published on: August 30, 2024

1.2K
Electrophysiological Motor Unit Number Estimation MUNE Measuring Compound Muscle Action Potential CMAP in Mouse Hindlimb Muscles09:07

Electrophysiological Motor Unit Number Estimation MUNE Measuring Compound Muscle Action Potential CMAP in Mouse Hindlimb Muscles

Published on: September 25, 2015

22.1K

Related Concept Videos

Muscle Stimulation Frequency01:22

Muscle Stimulation Frequency

The contraction strength of muscles is regulated by motor neurons, which modulate the frequency of action potentials dispatched to the motor units based on the body's requirements. This process of varying the muscle stimulation frequency allows muscles to contract with a force that is precisely tailored to the needs of the moment, whether lifting a feather or a heavy box.
Wave summation
At low firing rates, motor neurons induce individual twitch contractions in muscle fibers. These twitches...
4.4K
Classification of Skeletal Muscle Fibers01:48

Classification of Skeletal Muscle Fibers

Skeletal muscles continuously produce ATP to provide the energy that enables muscle contractions. Skeletal muscle fibers can be categorized into three types based on differences in their contraction speed and how they produce ATP, as well as physical differences related to these factors. Most human muscles contain all three muscle fiber types, albeit in varying proportions.
Slow-Twitch Muscle Fibers
Slow oxidative, muscle fibers appear red due to large numbers of capillaries and high levels of...
59.4K
Electric Generator: Alternator01:25

Electric Generator: Alternator

Electric generators induce an emf by rotating a coil in a magnetic field. A simple alternator is an AC generator that creates electrical energy that varies sinusoidally with time. A simple alternator consists of a conducting loop that is placed inside a uniform magnetic field. The loop is connected to split rings connected to the external circuit with the help of brushes.
The magnetic flux passing through the coil varies sinusoidally as the loop rotates inside the magnetic field. This...
3.3K
Alternative RNA Splicing02:18

Alternative RNA Splicing

Alternative RNA splicing is the regulated splicing of exons and introns to produce different mature mRNAs from a single pre-mRNA. Unlike in constitutive splicing where a single gene produces a single type of mRNA, alternative splicing allows an organism to produce multiple proteins from a single gene and plays an important role in protein diversity.
There are five types of alternative RNA splicing that vary in the ways the pre-mRNA segments are removed or retained in the mature mRNA. The first...
24.8K
Motor Unit Stimulation01:20

Motor Unit Stimulation

When the neuron of a motor unit fires an action potential, it triggers a series of events, leading to a twitch contraction in the muscle fibers. The process of excitation-contraction coupling is crucial in relaying the action potential to the muscle fibers.
The latent period of contraction marks the onset of excitation-contraction coupling, when the action potential propagates across the sarcolemma, preparing the muscle fibers for contraction. As the fibers enter the contraction phase, the...
3.6K
Weak Base Solutions03:21

Weak Base Solutions

Some compounds produce hydroxide ions when dissolved by chemically reacting with water molecules. In all cases, these compounds react only partially and so are classified as weak bases. These types of compounds are also abundant in nature and important commodities in various technologies. For example, global production of the weak base ammonia is typically well over 100 metric tons annually, being widely used as an agricultural fertilizer, a raw material for chemical synthesis of other...
24.9K