Muscle Stimulation Tutorial

Question 1

What is EMS

Answer 1

Electrical Muscle Stimulation - triggers a mechanical muscle response by stimulating the nervous system.

Reproduces brain order to “contract” a muscle”

Question 2

Low frequency vs High frequency

Answer 2

Low = muscle twitch (no contraction)
Medium = muscle contraction
High = TENS: transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

Question 3

Protocol (3 phases)

Answer 3

Phase 1: Blood flow (oxygenate selected muscle & remove waste)

Phase 2: still increase blood flow but with an additional endorphonic effect

Phase 3: softening effect - low frequency impulses

Question 4

By what percentage does the oxygenation to the muscles increase blood flow to selected muscles

Answer 4

300%

Question 5

Over the program we have a slow down in ….. and an increase in …..

Answer 5

1 = intensity
2 = depth

Question 6

SCI patients exercised 5 x 60 mins/wk had a …. increase in quad torque and a power output of …

Answer 6

67.3% increase in quad strength
177% power output

Question 7

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycling improved walking speed by…. and walking endurance by….

Answer 7

33%
23%

Due to changes in muscle activity pattern, foot clearance and regularity of gait.

Question 8

V02max and muscle mass increased by…

Answer 8

12%

Question 9

Traditional rehab + EMS for stroke patients

Answer 9

85% returned home compared to 45% in traditional rehab

Question 10

FES on stroke patients walking speed

Answer 10

38% increase (or 0.13m/s)

Question 11

EMS on knee prosthesis

Answer 11

30% in 3 minute walk test distance as opposed to 8% with no EMS. At 12 weeks it was 39% vs 11%

Question 12

EMS on arthritis

Answer 12

9% increase in strength and 11% increase in ability to sit and stand

Question 13

True or False - FES cycling improves spastic muscle tone in a patient with MS

Answer 13

TRUE