1. Local and Contralateral Effects after the Application of Neuromuscular Electrostimulation in Lower Limbs
- Author
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Julio César de la Torre-Montero, María Mercedes Reguera-García, Beatriz Alonso-Cortés, Elisa Benito-Martínez, María Jesús Martínez-Beltrán, and Diego Senovilla-Herguedas
- Subjects
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,lcsh:Medicine ,cross-education ,Electric Stimulation Therapy ,Pilot Projects ,Thigh ,Anterior region ,Article ,Cross education ,rehabilitation ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,medicine ,Humans ,Dominant side ,Muscle Strength ,Muscle, Skeletal ,business.industry ,lcsh:R ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Healthy subjects ,Skin temperature ,electrostimulation ,030229 sport sciences ,Blood flow ,thermography ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Lower Extremity ,Anesthesia ,Blood Circulation ,Muscle strength ,business ,Skin Temperature ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery - Abstract
Neuromuscular electrostimulation (NMES) has been used mainly as a method to promote muscle strength, but its effects on improving blood flow are less well known. The aim of this study is to deepen the knowledge about the local and contralateral effects of the application of symmetric biphasic square currents on skin temperature (Tsk). An experimental pilot study was developed with a single study group consisting of 45 healthy subjects. Thermographic evaluations were recorded following the application of NMES to the anterior region of the thigh. The results showed an increase in the maximal Tsk of 0.67% in the anterior region of the thigh where the NMES was applied (p <, 0.001) and an increase of 0.54% (p <, 0.01) due to cross-education effects, which was higher when the NMES was applied on the dominant side (0.79%, p <, 0.01). The duration of the effect was 20 min in the dominant leg and 10 min in the nondominant one. The application of a symmetrical biphasic current (8 Hz and 400 &mu, s) creates an increase in the maximal Tsk at the local level. A temperature cross-education effect is produced, which is greater when the NMES is applied on the dominant side. This could be a useful noninvasive measurement tool in NMES treatments.
- Published
- 2020