title: Using the Hephaistos orthotic device to study countermeasure effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and dietary lupin protein supplementation, a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study investigated whether neuromuscular electrical stimulation for 20 min twice a day with an electrode placed over the soleus muscle and nutritional supplementation with 19 g of protein rich lupin seeds can reduce the loss in volume and strength of the human calf musculature during long term unloading by wearing an orthotic unloading device.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen healthy male subjects (age of 26.4 ± 3.7 years) wore a Hephaistos orthosis one leg for 60 days during all habitual activities. The leg side was randomly chosen for every subject. Six subjects only wore the orthosis as control group, and 7 subjects additionally received the countermeasure consisting of neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the soleus and lateral gastrocnemius muscles and lupin protein supplementation. Twenty-eight days before and on the penultimate day of the intervention cross-sectional images of the calf muscles were taken by magnetic resonance imaging (controls n = 5), and maximum voluntary torque (controls n = 6) of foot plantar flexion was estimated under isometric (extended knee, 90° knee flexion) and isokinetic conditions (extended knee), respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 58 days of wearing the orthosis the percentage loss of volume in the entire triceps surae muscle of the control subjects (-11.9 ± 4.4%, mean ± standard deviation) was reduced by the countermeasure (-3.5 ± 7.2%, p = 0.032). Wearing the orthosis generally reduced plantar flexion torques values, however, only when testing isometric contraction at 90° knee ankle the countermeasure effected a significantly lower percentage decrease of torque (-9.7 ± 7.2%, mean ± SD) in comparison with controls (-22.3 ± 11.2%, p = 0.032).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Unloading of calf musculature by an orthotic device resulted in the expected loss of muscle volume and maximum of plantar flexion torque. Neuromuscular electrical muscle stimulation and lupin protein supplementation could significantly reduce the process of atrophy.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT02698878.
authors.affiliation: Division of Space Physiology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1822-0952
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zange
authors.affiliation: Division of Space Physiology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany.|Department of Molecular and Cellular Sport Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schopen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomechanics and Orthopaedics, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Albracht
authors.affiliation: Division of Space Physiology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Darius A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Gerlach
authors.affiliation: Division of Space Physiology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Frings-Meuthen
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Lab, Schulthess Clinic, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nicola A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Maffiuletti
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Sport Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Wilhelm
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bloch
authors.affiliation: Division of Space Physiology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany.|Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Jörn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rittweger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D031297:Lupinus / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D020511:Neuromuscular Junction Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D009989:Orthotic Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins