Low-frequency electrical stimulation increases muscle strength and improves blood supply in patients with chronic heart failure.
BACKGROUND
This study was designed to evaluate the effects of low-frequency electrical stimulation (LFES) on muscle strength and blood flow in patients with advanced chronic heart failure (CHF).


RESULTS
Patients with CHF (n=15; age 56.5 +/- 5.2 years; New York Heart Association III - IV; ejection fraction 18.7 +/- 3.3%) were examined before and after 6 weeks of LFES (10 Hz) of the quadriceps and calf muscles of both legs (1 h/day, 7 days/week). Dynamometry was performed weekly to determine maximal muscle strength (F(max); N) and isokinetic peak torque (PT(max); Nm); blood flow velocity (BFV) was measured at baseline and after 6 weeks of LFES using pulsed-wave Doppler velocimetry of the right femoral artery. Six weeks of LFES significantly increased F(max) (from 224.5 +/- 96.8 N to 340.0 +/- 99.4 N; p<0.001), and also PT(max) (from 94.5 +/- 41.5 Nm to 135.3 +/- 28.8 Nm; p<0.01). BFV in the femoral artery increased after 6 weeks from 35.7 +/- 15.4 cm/s to 48.2 +/- 18.1 cm/s (p<0.05); BFV values at rest before and after 6 weeks of LFES did not differ significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
LFES may improve muscle strength and blood supply, and could be recommended for the treatment of patients with severe CHF.
Dobsák
Petr
P
Department of Functional Diagnostics and Rehabilitation.
Nováková
Marie
M
Siegelová
Jarmila
J
Fiser
Bohumil
B
Vítovec
Jirí
J
Nagasaka
Makoto
M
Kohzuki
Masahiro
M
Yambe
Tomoyuki
T
Nitta
Shin-ichi
S
Eicher
Jean-Christophe
JC
Wolf
Jean-Eric
JE
Imachi
Kou
K
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology; D033081:Shear Strength; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein