Preventing fatigue of fast striated muscles of the pelvic floor and slow striated muscles of the limb by manipulating the on-off time of electric stimulation.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate in vitro the effect of different on-off electrostimulation times on the fatigue of 2 pelvic muscles, the iliococcygeus and pubococcygeus (mainly fast), and the soleus muscle of the limb (mainly slow).


METHODS
Nonrandomized controlled trial and before-after trial.


METHODS
In vitro study in tissue baths on stabilized preparations of whole striated muscles.


METHODS
Young healthy female Wistar rats.


METHODS
Applied isometric tetanic contractions of various stimulation durations (on-off times) to dissected rat iliococcygeus and pubococcygeus (at 66Hz) and soleus (at 25Hz) muscles.


METHODS
Muscle fatigue with changing on-off, frequency, and stimulation times.


RESULTS
The longer the off time, the less the fatigue. Shortening the stimulation time can minimize fatigue. Optimal combinations are presented to limit fatigue.


CONCLUSIONS
Changing on-off time and stimulation time can be used to make electric stimulation of pelvic muscles more effective.
Poortmans
Ariane
A
Department of Urology, Research Lab, School of Medicine, University of Antwerp, 10 Wilrijkstr., B-2650 Edegem, Belgium.
Wyndaele
Jean-Jacques
JJ
D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar