Electrically Elicited Muscle Torque: Comparison Between 2500-Hz Burst-Modulated Alternating Current and Monophasic Pulsed Current.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-2015

Institution/Department

Western Maine Health, Stephens Memorial Hospital

Journal Title

Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy

MeSH Headings

Electrical Stimulation, Neuromuscular Methods; Knee Physiology; Quadriceps Muscles Physiology; Torque; Isometric Contraction; Dynamometry; Pain Measurement; Clinical Assessment Tools; Scales; Crossover Design; Descriptive Statistics; P-Value; Single-Blind Studies; Repeated Measures; Analysis of Variance; Confidence Intervals; Young Adult; Female; Male; Human; Female; Male

Abstract

*STUDY DESIGN: Single-blind, block-randomization crossover design. * OBJECTIVE: To compare the knee extensor muscle torque production elicited with 2500-Hz burst-modulated alternating current (BMAC) and with a monophasic pulsed current (MPC) at the maximum tolerated stimulation intensity. * BACKGROUND: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is often used for strengthening the quadriceps following knee surgery. Strength gains are dependent on muscle torque production, which is primarily limited by discomfort. Burst-modulated alternating current stimulation is a clinically popular waveform for NMES. Prior research has established that MPC with a relatively long pulse duration is effective for high muscle torque production. *METHODS: Participants in this study were 20 adults with no history of knee injury. A crossover design was used to randomize the order in which each participant's dominant or nondominant lower extremity received NMES and the waveform (MPC or BMAC) this limb received. Stimulation intensity was incrementally increased until participants reached their maximum tolerance. The torque produced was converted to a percentage of each participant's maximum volitional isometric contraction of the respective limb. * RESULTS: A general linear model for a 2-treat-ment, 2-period crossover design was utilized to analyze the results. The mean ± SD electrically induced percent maximum volitional isometric contraction at maximal participant tolerance was 49.5% ± 19.6% for MPC and 29.8% ± 12.4% for BMAC. This difference was statistically significant (P = .002) after accounting for treatment order and limb, which had no effect on torque production. *CONCLUSION: Neuromuscular stimulation using MPC may be more efficacious than using BMAC to achieve a high torque output in patients with quadriceps weakness.

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1035

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