Christof A J Smit1, Frank Berenpas2, Sonja de Groot3,4, Janneke M Stolwijk-Swuste5, Thomas W J Janssen3,2. 1. Amsterdam Rehabilitation Research Center | Reade, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. c.smit@reade.nl. 2. MOVE Research Institute Amsterdam, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 3. Amsterdam Rehabilitation Research Center | Reade, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 4. University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Human Movement Sciences, Groningen, The Netherlands. 5. De Hoogstraat, Rehabilitation Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN: We investigated whether overnight ES is a feasible method to activate gluteal, quadriceps, and hamstrings muscles in a two-week experiment. Electrical stimulation (ES) induced muscle contractions have proven positive effects on risk factors for developing pressure ulcers in people with a spinal cord injury (SCI). Therefore prolonged overnight ES-induced muscle activation is interesting, but has never been studied. OBJECTIVE: To study feasibility of ES-induced leg muscle activation. In eight participants with motor complete SCI gluteal, hamstrings and quadriceps muscles were activated with a 2-weeks overnight stimulation protocol, 8 h per night, using specially developed ES-shorts. SETTING: The Netherlands. METHODS: Muscle fatigue was determined with a muscle contraction sensor. Questionnaires on sleep quality (SQ) and the ES-shorts usability were taken. RESULTS: After 8 h of activation muscles still contracted, although fatigue occurred, and mean contraction size was lower at the end of a cycle (p = 0.03). SQ (0-100) after intervention was 75, and 66 after 4 weeks without overnight ES (p = 0.04) indicating ES improves sleep quality. The usability of the ES-shorts was good. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that overnight ES-induced muscle activation using ES-shorts in SCI is a new, feasible method that does not interfere with sleep. The nightly use of the ES-shorts might be considered as an important part of the daily routine in SCI.
STUDY DESIGN: We investigated whether overnight ES is a feasible method to activate gluteal, quadriceps, and hamstrings muscles in a two-week experiment. Electrical stimulation (ES) induced muscle contractions have proven positive effects on risk factors for developing pressure ulcers in people with a spinal cord injury (SCI). Therefore prolonged overnight ES-induced muscle activation is interesting, but has never been studied. OBJECTIVE: To study feasibility of ES-induced leg muscle activation. In eight participants with motor complete SCI gluteal, hamstrings and quadriceps muscles were activated with a 2-weeks overnight stimulation protocol, 8 h per night, using specially developed ES-shorts. SETTING: The Netherlands. METHODS:Muscle fatigue was determined with a muscle contraction sensor. Questionnaires on sleep quality (SQ) and the ES-shorts usability were taken. RESULTS: After 8 h of activation muscles still contracted, although fatigue occurred, and mean contraction size was lower at the end of a cycle (p = 0.03). SQ (0-100) after intervention was 75, and 66 after 4 weeks without overnight ES (p = 0.04) indicating ES improves sleep quality. The usability of the ES-shorts was good. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that overnight ES-induced muscle activation using ES-shorts in SCI is a new, feasible method that does not interfere with sleep. The nightly use of the ES-shorts might be considered as an important part of the daily routine in SCI.
Authors: Liang Qin Liu; Graham P Nicholson; Sarah L Knight; Ramesh Chelvarajah; Angela Gall; Fred R I Middleton; Martin W Ferguson-Pell; Michael D Craggs Journal: J Rehabil Res Dev Date: 2006 Jul-Aug
Authors: Claudia Gorecki; Julia M Brown; E Andrea Nelson; Michelle Briggs; Lisette Schoonhoven; Carol Dealey; Tom Defloor; Jane Nixon Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2009-05-21 Impact factor: 5.562