title: Effects of electrical stimulation therapy on the blood flow in chronic critical limb ischemia patients following regenerative therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the effects of electrical stimulation therapy on cutaneous and muscle blood flow in critical limb ischemia patients following regenerative therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three groups were studied: 10 healthy young subjects, 10 elderly subjects, and 7 critical limb ischemia patients after regenerative therapy. After 5 min rest, electrical stimulation was applied at 5 Hz on the tibialis anterior muscle for 10 min. We estimated the relative changes in oxyhemoglobin and total hemoglobin compared to the basal values at rest (Δ[HbO2], Δ[Hbtot]), which reflected the blood flow in the skin and muscle layer, and we simultaneously measured the tissue O2 saturation (StO2) throughout the electrical stimulation and recovery phase by near-infrared spectroscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Δ[HbO2] and Δ[Hbtot] values of the muscle layer in critical limb ischemia patients increased gradually and remained significantly higher at the 5-min and 10-min recovery periods after the electrical stimulation without reducing the StO2, but there is no significant change in the other two groups. Skin blood flow was not influenced by electrical stimulation in three groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This improvement of the peripheral circulation by electrical stimulation would be beneficial as the adjunctive therapy after regenerative cell therapy.
authors: Rehabilitation Unit, University Hospital, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Shiho
authors: S
authors: Yamabata
authors: Rehabilitation Unit, University Hospital, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan; Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Hirokazu
authors: H
authors: Shiraishi
authors: Rehabilitation Unit, University Hospital, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Mai
authors: M
authors: Munechika
authors: Rehabilitation Unit, University Hospital, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Hideki
authors: H
authors: Fukushima
authors: Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Yoshiyuki
authors: Y
authors: Fukuoka
authors: Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Tatsuya
authors: T
authors: Hojo
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Takeshi
authors: T
authors: Shirayama
authors: Rehabilitation Unit, University Hospital, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan; Department of Orthopaedics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Motoyuki
authors: M
authors: Horii
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Satoaki
authors: S
authors: Matoba
authors: Rehabilitation Unit, University Hospital, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan; Department of Orthopaedics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Toshikazu
authors: T
authors: Kubo
keywords: Critical limb ischemia; electrical stimulation; hemoglobin; near-infrared spectroscopy; regenerative cell therapy