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

作者：Menendez H^*; Ferrero C; Martin Hernandez J; Figueroa A; Marin P J; Herrero A J

来源：Spinal Cord, 2016, 54(5): 383-389.

DOI：10.1038/sc.2015.181

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 1min ON+1 min OFF. Subjects were seated on their own wheelchairs with their feet on the vibration platform (10 Hz, 5mm peak-to-peak), and ES was applied on the gastrocnemius muscle of both legs (8 Hz, 400 mu s).
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.

• 出版日期2016-5