Article

In the last 2 decades, neuromuscular electrical stimulation has been used
increasingly in deconditioned patients with the aim of increasing muscle force.
Much basic research has been conducted in the area of increasing a muscle's
fatigue resistance by neuromuscular electrical stimulation but similarly thorough
research with regard to increasing maximal force is missing. Insufficient
clinical and basic knowledge exists on the selection of stimulation parameters
that will optimize muscle hypertrophy and gains in muscle force. For volitional
training, established stimuli for muscle hypertrophy (which more or less
parallels maximal muscle force) are muscle tension, metabolic stress, and muscle
damage. The present review summarizes findings from clinical and basic research
in terms of muscle mechanical as well as acute and chronic physiologic effects of
different stimulation protocols, explains the role of the various stimulation
parameters in determining the effect of NMES training protocols, and gives
clinical recommendations for the choice of stimulation parameters for different
patient populations with different training goals, such as increasing muscle
force, mass, endurance, or energy consumption. We limit this review to
non-neurologic patients, because training goals of neurologic patients are
specific to their functional deficits.
CI - Copyright (c) 2015 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS