Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026
A Murine Model of Muscle Training by Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation
Published on: May 9, 2012
Neuromuscular Electrostimulation Increases Microcirculatory Flux in Mixed Etiology Leg Ulcers
Keith Gordon Harding1, Melissa Blow, Faye Ashton
1Keith Gordon Harding, Mb ChB, CBE, FRCGP, FRCP, FRCS, FLSW, is Professor Emeritus Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales; Adjunct Professor Monash University Malaysia, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia; and Co-Founder and Editor in Chief of the International Wound Journal. Melissa Blow, BSc, is Principal Podiatrist, South East Wales Vascular Network, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Cardiff, Wales. Faye Ashton, BSc, is Vascular Research Nurse, Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, Glenfield University Hospital, Leicester, United Kingdom. David Bosanquet, MD, is Consultant Vascular Surgeon, South East Wales Vascular Network, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. Acknowledgments: The authors acknowledge the assistance of Firstkind Ltd, Hawk House, Peregrine Business Park, Gomm Road, High Wycombe, United Kingdom HP13 7DL for sponsoring the study (grant ref: FSK-SPECKLE-001) and provided the NMES devices for the trial. Keith Harding has received payments for consulting work from Firstkind Ltd. The authors have disclosed no other financial relationships related to this article. Submitted November 28, 2023; accepted in revised form April 17, 2024.
Objective:
To determine if intermittent neuromuscular electrostimulation (NMES) of the common peroneal nerve increases microvascular flow and pulsatility in and around the wound bed of patients with combined venous and arterial etiology.
Methods:
Seven consenting participants presenting with mixed etiology leg ulcers participated in this study. Microvascular flow and pulsatility was measured in the wound bed and in the skin surrounding the wound using laser speckle contrast imaging. Measurements were made at baseline and when the venous pumps of the leg were activated by 1 Hz intermittent neuromuscular stimulation of the common peroneal nerve. The nerve was stimulated transdermally at the head of the fibula.
Results:
When activated by NMES, wound bed flux increased by 38% (95% CI, 11%-73%; P = .023), and periwound flux increased by 19% (95% CI, 9%-32%; P = .009). Pulsatility increased in the wound bed by 214% (95% CI, 51%-985%; P = .017) and in the periwound by 122% (95% CI, 38%-299%; P = .014).
Conclusions:
The results indicate that NMES is effective in augmenting microvascular flow in leg ulcers with combined venous and arterial etiology.
