Benito-Martínez E, Lara-Sánchez AJ, Berdejo-del-Fresno D, Martínez-López EJ. Effects of combined electrostimulation and plyometric training on vertical jump and speed tests. J. Hum. Sport Exerc. Vol. 6, No. 4, pp. 603-615, 2011. The aim of this study was to determine the performance evolution of a group of athletes after 8 weeks of training that combined electrostimulation (NM ES) and plyometrics (PT). 78 medium level sprinter athletes participated, 40 women and 38 men (age, 15.9±1.4 years old, body mass index, 20.5±1.68 kg/m 2 ; weight 58.53±8.05 kg; height, 1.68±0.07 m). The sample was randomized into four groups [Control (PT only), NM ES + PT, PT + NM ES, and Simultaneous (plyometric jumps were performed through the passage of current). Improvements were obtained in the Abalakov jump of 3.57% (p<0.01), 13.51% (p<0.001), 1.23% (p<0.01), and 0.77%, and in the sprint of 0.45%, 3.87% (p<0.05), 4.56% (p<0.01) and 7.26% p<0.001 for the control group, NM ES + PT group, PT + NM ES group, and Simultaneous group, respectively. It was concluded that a) improvement in vertical jump requires the application of the NM ES prior to PT; b) the sprinter athlete must combine the workout simultaneously or apply the ES after the PT training; and c) in sportspeople that require improvement in both the vertical jump and speed tests (e.g. basketball) the simultaneous method is not recommended, the order of application of NM ES and PT being non-determinant. Finally, the time needed to obtain significant improvement in strength training through a combination of NM ES and PT is substantially lower (15 days) than the time needed to improve speed (30 days).

Neuromuscular electrostimulation (NMES) has been used mainly as a method to promote muscle strength, but its effects on improving blood flow are less well known. The aim of this study is to deepen the knowledge about the local and contralateral effects of the application of symmetric biphasic square currents on skin temperature (Tsk). An experimental pilot study was developed with a single study group consisting of 45 healthy subjects. Thermographic evaluations were recorded following the application of NMES to the anterior region of the thigh. The results showed an increase in the maximal Tsk of 0.67% in the anterior region of the thigh where the NMES was applied (p < 0.001) and an increase of 0.54% (p < 0.01) due to cross-education effects, which was higher when the NMES was applied on the dominant side (0.79%; p < 0.01). The duration of the effect was 20 min in the dominant leg and 10 min in the nondominant one. The application of a symmetrical biphasic current (8 Hz and 400 μs) creates an increase in the maximal Tsk at the local level. A temperature cross-education effect is produced, which is greater when the NMES is applied on the dominant side. This could be a useful noninvasive measurement tool in NMES treatments.