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

• Published in: Spinal cord 2016-05, Vol.54 (5), p.383-389
• Main Authors: Menéndez, H, Ferrero, C, Martín-Hernández, J, Figueroa, A, Marín, P J, Herrero, A J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 692/617; Adult; Aged; Anatomy; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Electric Stimulation; Female; Human Physiology; Humans; Leg - blood supply; Leg - diagnostic imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Muscle, Skeletal - drug effects; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Neurochemistry; Neuropsychology; Neurosciences; original-article; Physical Stimulation; Psychomotor Performance; Regional Blood Flow - physiology; Skin Temperature; Spinal Cord Injuries - diagnostic imaging; Spinal Cord Injuries - physiopathology; Time Factors; Vibration
• ISSN: 1362-4393; 1476-5624
• 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 × 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.