Electrical Stimulation Flashcards
What can electrically stimulated do to muscles?
Strengthen
Improve endurance
Prevent muscle atrophy
Reduce spasticity
Help Restore function
(Improve cardiovascular health (Bonus))
When using electrical stimulation which muscle fiber is recruited 1st?
Fast twitch type II
What is the order of recruitment in normal muscle contraction?
Slow twitch type I fibers activated 1st
Followed by larger sized, faster motor units
Describe the graduation of contraction when electrically stimulated
Rapid/jerky b/c all motor units under pad fire once stimulated
Describe gradation of normal contraction
Gradual increase of force in smooth manner
Which fibers are more resistant to fatigue and atrophy?
Type I
Which fibers fatigue rapidly & prone to weakening & atrophy w/ disuse?
Type II
What is the clinical importance that electrical stimulation will recruit type II fibers first?
Longer rest time should be provided (more fatiguing)
Why should patients perform physiological contractions w/ electrically stimulated contraction?
Optimize recruitment
Functional integration
What is the ratio stimulation to rest time that should be done?
1:5
When using electrical stimulation describe the order from A beta fibers to denervated muscle that will be stimulated
A beta
Motor
A delta sharp pain
C dull pain
Denervated muscle
What is the clinical implication of nerve disease or injury?
Denervated muscle can no longer contract (physiologically or electrically)
In cases of denervated muscles what can be done to cause contraction?
Direct current is applied directly to muscle belly, stimulating AP in muscle cells directly w/o input from motor nerve
What can be an issue of direct current to denervated muscles?
Slows down nerve regrowth drastically
What are some clinical application of electrical stimulation for muscle contraction?
Orthopedic conditions
Cardiorespiratory
Healthy adults & athletes
Muscle coordination & motor control for patient w/ neurological conditions
Is NMES added to functional program before surgery shown to increase post - operative strength & faster functional improvement
YES
True or False: Higher NMES training intensities were associated w/ greater quad muscle strength & activation after TKA
True
What effect can NMES have on patients with OA?
Decrease pain
Increase quad strength
improve walking & climbing
What effect can NMES have on patients with RA?
Improve strength & endurance
What did a study show to do when NMES was applied to quads in patients w/ heart failure?
Improved:
Peak O2 uptake
6 min walk test distance
Muscle strength
Depressive sxm
QoL
In patients with critical illness what kind of effect did NMES have on them?
Regains strength 4.5 times faster than patients in control group
What effect did NMES have on healthy adults & athletes?
Generally improved strength
Inconsistent impact on functional performance
Following a stroke what can NMES do?
Improve strength & activity
Prevent or reduce shoulder subluxation & improve function
Reduces spasticity & increased ROM