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

H. Menéndez, C. Ferrero, J. Martín-Hernández, A. Figueroa, P. J. Marín, A. J. Herrero

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

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 × 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 μs).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 °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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)383-389
Number of pages7
JournalSpinal Cord
Volume54
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2016

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