title: Electrical stimulation of quadriceps femoris in an elite weight lifter: a single subject experiment.
abstract: The response to treatment of high intensity neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to both quadriceps femoris muscles as an adjunct to ongoing weight training was evaluated using a single subject experimental design. For an elite weight lifter weekly maximal measurements of snatch (S), clean and jerk (CJ), and front squat (SQ) were obtained over 4 months during which the subject weight trained daily for 3 h. The 1st month, baseline data were collected. After baseline measurements, a 1-month period of high-intensity NMES was added to the subject's weight training. NMES was then withdrawn for 1 month and administered once more for 2 weeks. Three quadriceps femoris muscle biopsies were taken, two during the initial baseline period and one just before the end of the first stimulation period. The results showed a significant and clear relationship between performance gains and NMES administration and withdrawal. Steep gains for S, CJ, and SQ were seen after 2 weeks of stimulation, with front squat showing a 20-kg increase within the 1st week of both stimulation periods. Muscle biopsy showed an increased type I fiber area, decreased type IIa and IIb fiber area, and an increase of type II fibers after NMES. The results of this study support the use of high-dose NMES as an adjunct to weight training in elite lifters.
authors.affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Delitto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Strube
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Lehman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D013177:Sports; D013848:Thigh / Q000502:physiology*; D014891:Weight Lifting