A Single Session of Whole-Body Electromyostimulation Increases Muscle Strength, Endurance and proNGF in Early Parkinson Patients

Giovanni Fiorilli, Federico Quinzi, Andrea Buonsenso, Giusy Casazza, Luigi Manni, Attilio Parisi, Alfonso Di Costanzo, Giuseppe Calcagno, Marzia Soligo and Alessandra di Cagno
Additional contact information
Giovanni Fiorilli: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Federico Quinzi: Department of Motor, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, 00197 Rome, Italy
Andrea Buonsenso: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Giusy Casazza: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Luigi Manni: Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, 00133 Rome, Italy
Attilio Parisi: Department of Motor, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, 00197 Rome, Italy
Alfonso Di Costanzo: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Giuseppe Calcagno: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Marzia Soligo: Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, 00133 Rome, Italy
Alessandra di Cagno: Department of Motor, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, 00197 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 10, 1-14

Abstract: Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients lead a sedentary lifestyle, being unable or unwilling to exercise conventionally, due to physical and mental limitations. The aim of this study was to assess the acute effects of a single session of whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) on the physical performances and serum levels of the neurotrophic factors in PD patients. Ten subjects (aged 72.60 ± 6.82) underwent 20 min of physical activity with superimposed WB-EMS and, after four weeks, the same protocol with no WB-EMS. WB-EMS was conducted with intermittent stimulation, with 4 s WB-EMS/4 s rest, at 85 Hz, 350 ?s. A physical fitness assessment and blood samples collection, to evaluate neurotrophic factors’ levels (BDNF, FGF21, proNGF, mNGF), were collected before and after the intervention. The RM-ANOVA showed significant improvements in sit-to-stand ( p < 0.01), arm curl ( p < 0.01), handgrip ( p < 0.01) and soda pop test ( p < 0.01) after the WB-EMS intervention. Higher proNFG serum levels were observed in the WB-EMS condition compared to the no WB-EMS after 60 min post-intervention ( p = 0.0163). The effect of WB-EMS confirmed the electrostimulation ability to modulate the proNGF quantity. The positive impact of the WB-EMS protocol on physical functioning, and eye–hand coordination, makes this intervention a promising strategy to improve motor and non-motor symptoms in PD patients.

Keywords: Parkinson’s disease; motor impairment; physical activity; neurotrophic factors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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