Electrical stimulation during gait promotes increase of muscle cross-sectional area in quadriplegics: a preliminary study.
Increases in muscular cross-sectional area (CSA) occur in quadriplegics after training, but the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) along with training are unknown. Thus, we addressed two questions: (1) Does NMES during treadmill gait training increase the quadriceps CSA in complete quadriplegics?; and (2) Is treadmill gait training alone enough to observe an increase in CSA? Fifteen quadriplegics were divided into gait (n = 8) and control (n = 7) groups. The gait group performed training with NMES for 6 months twice a week for 20 minutes each time. After 6 months of traditional therapy, the control group received the same gait training protocol but without NMES for an additional 6 months. Axial images of the thigh were acquired at the beginning of the study, at 6 months (for both groups), and at 12 months for the control group to determine the average quadriceps CSA. After 6 months, there was an increase of CSA in the gait group (from 49.8 +/- 9.4 cm(2) to 57.3 +/- 10.3 cm(2)), but not in the control group (from 43.6 +/- 7.6 cm(2) to 41.8 +/- 8.4 cm(2)). After another 6 months of gait without NMES in the control group, the CSA did not change (from 41.8 +/- 8.4 cm(2) to 41.7 +/- 7.9 cm(2)). The increase in quadriceps CSA after gait training in patients with chronic complete quadriplegia appears associated with NMES.
de Abreu
Daniela Cristina Carvalho
DC
Biomechanics, Medicine and Rehabilitation of Locomotor System Department, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. dabreu@fmrp.usp.br
Cliquet
Alberto
A
Rondina
Jane Maryan
JM
Cendes
Fernando
F
D000328:Adult; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000473:pathology*; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy
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