Local and Contralateral Effects after the Application of Neuromuscular Electrostimulation in Lower Limbs

Elisa Benito-Martínez, Diego Senovilla-Herguedas, Julio César de la Torre-Montero, María Jesús Martínez-Beltrán, María Mercedes Reguera-García and Beatriz Alonso-Cortés
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Elisa Benito-Martínez: San Juan de Dios School of Nursing and Physical Therapy, Comillas Pontifical University, 28350 Madrid, Spain
Diego Senovilla-Herguedas: San Juan de Dios School of Nursing and Physical Therapy, Comillas Pontifical University, 28350 Madrid, Spain
Julio César de la Torre-Montero: San Juan de Dios School of Nursing and Physical Therapy, Comillas Pontifical University, 28350 Madrid, Spain
María Jesús Martínez-Beltrán: San Juan de Dios School of Nursing and Physical Therapy, Comillas Pontifical University, 28350 Madrid, Spain
María Mercedes Reguera-García: SALBIS Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Campus of Ponferrada, University of León, 24401 Ponferrada, Spain
Beatriz Alonso-Cortés: SALBIS Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Campus of Ponferrada, University of León, 24401 Ponferrada, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 23, 1-13

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 μs) 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.

Keywords: thermography; electrostimulation; cross-education; rehabilitation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:23:p:9028-:d:455861

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