TONING AND STRENGTHENING PREDOMINANT MUSCLE GROUPS THROUGH ELECTRICAL MUSCLE STIMULATION 940

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) on muscles, using 99mTc-sestamibi SPECT/CT. Materials and Methods: We prospectively enrolled 20 consecutive male professional water polo players. The mean age was 25 years (range, 18-36 years). All athletes underwent 99mTc-sestamibi SPECT/CT of the thigh (rectus femoris and vastus medialis muscle groups) before and after EMS. Images were quantified to identify increases in perfusion after EMS. Results: Before EMS, there were no significant differences between the right and left thigh (rectus femoris and vastus medialis muscles) in terms of perfusion (p = 0.4). However, the comparison between the pre- and post-EMS analyses of the same muscle groups showed significant differences in radiotracer uptake (p < 0.001), with a mean increase in perfusion of 128% for the rectus femoris muscle group (95% CI: 0.86-1.61) and 118% for the vastus medialis muscle group (95% CI: 0.96-1.79). Conclusion: 99mTc-sestamibi SPECT/CT is an objective means of evaluating blood flow in muscles submitted to EMS, which appears to promote significant increases in such blood flow.

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Electrical Muscle Stimulation: An Effective Form of Exercise and Early Mobilization to Preserve Muscle Strength in Critically Ill Patients

Critical Care Research and Practice ◽

10.1155/2012/432752 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Eleftherios Karatzanos ◽

Vasiliki Gerovasili ◽

Dimitrios Zervakis ◽

Elli-Sophia Tripodaki ◽

Kleovoulos Apostolou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Muscle Strength ◽

Critically Ill ◽

Critically Ill Patients ◽

Handgrip Strength ◽

Early Mobilization ◽

Control Group ◽

Muscle Stimulation ◽

Electrical Muscle Stimulation ◽

Muscle Groups ◽

Electrical Muscle

Purpose. This is a secondary analysis of previously published data to investigate the effects of electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) on strength of various muscle groups in critically ill patients.Methods. One hundred forty-two consecutive patients, with APACHE IIscore≥13, were randomly assigned to the EMS or the control group. EMS sessions were applied daily on vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and peroneus longus of both lower extremities. Various muscle groups were evaluated with the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale for muscle strength. Handgrip strength assessment was also employed.Results. Twenty four patients in the EMS group and 28 patients in the control group were finally evaluated. EMS patients achieved higher MRC scores than controls (P≤0.05) in wrist flexion, hip flexion, knee extension, and ankle dorsiflexion. Collectively, the EMS group performed higher (P<0.01) in the legs and overall. Handgrip strength correlated (P≤0.01) with the upper and lower extremities’ muscle strength and the overall MRC scores.Conclusions. EMS has beneficial effects on the strength of critically ill patients mainly affecting muscle groups stimulated, while it may also affect muscle groups not involved presenting itself as a potential effective means of muscle strength preservation and early mobilization in this patient population.

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