Neuromuscular electrical stimulation training increases intermuscular fascial length but not tendon cross-sectional area after spinal cord injury

To determine the effects of 12 weeks of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) training with ankle weights on intermuscular fascial length and patellar tendon cross-sectional area (CSA) in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). This study was a pre-post intervention. Seven men with motor comple...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Topics in spinal cord injury rehabilitation 2015, Vol.21 (1), p.87-92
Main Authors: Gorgey, Ashraf S, Khalil, Refka E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Diet
Electric Stimulation Therapy - methods
Fascia - pathology
Humans
Hypertrophy - pathology
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Middle Aged
Patellar Ligament - pathology
Proffered Paper
Quadriceps Muscle - pathology
Resistance Training - methods
Spinal Cord Injuries - complications
Spinal Cord Injuries - pathology
Spinal Cord Injuries - rehabilitation
Thigh - pathology
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Summary:To determine the effects of 12 weeks of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) training with ankle weights on intermuscular fascial length and patellar tendon cross-sectional area (CSA) in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). This study was a pre-post intervention. Seven men with motor complete SCI were randomly assigned to a resistance training plus diet (RT + diet) group (n = 4) or a diet control group (n = 3). Participants in the RT + diet group were enrolled in a 12-week leg extension weight-lifting program via surface NMES of the knee extensor muscle group. The length of mid-thigh intermuscular fascia and the patellar tendon CSA were measured using MRI. In the RT + diet group, a nonsignificant 8% increase in the CSA of the patellar tendon (P = .14) was noted. The length of the mid-thigh intermuscular fascia increased by 19% and 23% in the right (P = .029) and left (P = .015) legs, respectively, with no changes in the diet control group. Positive relationships were noted between skeletal muscle CSAs of the whole thigh (r = 0.77, P = .041) and knee extensors (r = 0.76, P = .048) and intermuscular fascial length. The preliminary results suggest that noncontractile connective tissue structures of the knee extensors respond differently to NMES training after SCI. Skeletal muscle hypertrophy is associated with an increase in the intermuscular fascial length.
ISSN:1082-0744
1945-5763
DOI:10.1310/sci2101-87