Is Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) Effective as a Pretreatment of Muscle Stretching?

• Published in: Rigaku ryoho kagaku 2015-03, Vol.29 (5), p.709-713
• Main Authors: Sato, Yui, Yoshida, Hideki, Sato, Nanako, Saito, Shigeki, Maeda, Takaya, Narita, Hirokazu, Okamoto, Natsuko, Ichinohe, Nodoka, Osanai, Taro, Narita, Kazuki, Hara, Kanshu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1341-1667

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) as a pretreatment of muscle stretching. Subjects and Methods: Sixteen healthy volunteers participated in this study. They received three types of 15-minute intervention as follows: 1) NMES based on the Ia inhibition (Ia-NMES), 2) NMES based on Ib inhibition (Ib-NMES), and 3) rest without NMES (control). Both the Ia- and Ib-NMES were performed with the aim of improving hamstrings extensibility. Hamstrings muscle hardness and the distance of long sitting body anteflexion before and after the NMES and control treatments were examined. Results: Only the Ib-NMES caused a significant decrease in hamstring muscle hardness. On the other hand, the Ia-NMES as well as the Ib-NMES prevented decrease in the distance of long sitting body anteflexion which was observed after the control treatment. Conclusion: These results raise the possibility that NMES might be effective as a pretreatment of muscle stretching.