Spinal Cord, 2016; 54(5): 383-9, PMID: 26458973

Acute effects of simultaneous electromyostimulation and vibration on leg blood flow in spinal cord injury.

Year: 2016

Menendez H, Ferrero C, Martin-Hernandez J, Figueroa A, Marin PJ, Herrero AJ
Research Centre on Physical Disability, ASPAYM Castilla y Leon Foundation, Valladolid, Spain.

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: Randomized crossover. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the acute effects of isolated and simultaneous application of whole-body vibration (WBV) and electromyostimulation (ES) on popliteal artery blood velocity (BV) and skin temperature (ST) of the calf in subjects with spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING: Valladolid, Spain. METHODS: Ten subjects with SCI were assessed in five different sessions. After a familiarization session, four interventions were applied in random order; WBV, ES, simultaneous WBV and ES (WBV+ES), and 30 s of WBV followed by 30 s of ES (WBV30/ES30). Each intervention consisted of 10 sets x 1 min ON+1 min OFF. Subjects were seated on their own wheelchairs with their feet on the vibration platform (10 Hz, 5 mm peak-to-peak), and ES was applied on the gastrocnemius muscle of both legs (8 Hz, 400 mus). RESULTS: The simultaneous application (WBV+ES) produced the greatest increase in mean BV (MBV; 36% and 42%, respectively) and peak BV (PBV; 30% and 36%, respectively) during the intervention. This intervention produced the greatest mean increases in MBV (21%) and PBV (19%) during the recovery period. Last, this intervention produced the highest increase in ST during the intervention (2.1 degrees C). CONCLUSION: The simultaneous application of WBV+ES seems to produce a greater increase in MBV and PBV of the popliteal artery and ST of the calf than the isolated (WBV or ES) or consecutive application of both stimuli (WBV30/ES30). This study provides an efficient therapeutic methodology to improve peripheral arterial properties, which is pivotal in SCI patient"s rehabilitation.Spinal Cord advance online publication, 13 October 2015; doi:10.1038/sc.2015.181.

Keywords: SCI, Spinal Cord Injury, Blood Flow, Electro Stimulation#gr>#GRFS63
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