Potential negative effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation: Does it affect static balance and proprioception?
J. W. Je, W. J. Choi
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AbstractNeuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is commonly used in clinics or homes for older adults to strengthen muscles and/or control pains by inducing muscle contraction artificially, and several research studies support its effectiveness in muscle strengthening and pain control (Nussbaum et al., 2017). Physiologically, however, the electricity-induced muscle contraction is quite different compared to voluntary contraction. For example, while the voluntary muscle contraction occurs with recruitment of motor units from small to large (Henneman’s size principle), the artificial muscle contraction occurs with motor units near electrodes, resulting in a non-selective and synchronized pattern (thereby easily fatigued) (Binder-Macleod et al., 1995). Therefore, long-term use of NMES should change muscle contraction behavior. Furthermore, static balance is an ability to place the center of body mass within a base of support during standing, and lower extremity muscle contraction along with an ankle joint proprioception play a critical role in maintaining balance (Karakaya et al., 2015). Accordingly, the changes in muscle contraction behavior by NMES may affect balance. Our hypothesis was that if there was a potentially negative effect even in healthy adults, it was expected to affect balance in the elderly. In this study, it is expected that it can be used effectively even in the elderly by proving its safety.Keywords: electrical stimulation, balance, proprioception, voluntary muscle contraction
J. W. Je, W. J. Choi (2022). Potential negative effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation: Does it affect static balance and proprioception?. Gerontechnology, 21(s),1-1
https://doi.org/10.4017/gt.2022.21.s.536.opp3