Muscle plasticity: comparison of a 30-Hz burst with 10-Hz continuous stimulation

Abstract

The changes in the contractile properties induced by a 30-Hz phasic stimulation paradigm were measured and compared with the changes induced by a 10-Hz continuous stimulation paradigm. The study was performed on the tibialis anterior muscles of cats with one paradigm applied to one hindlimb muscle and the other to the contralateral limb. Both hindlimb muscles received the same number of stimuli in a day, making the average stimulation frequency 10 Hz. Two periods of daily stimulation were studied, 8 and 24 h/day. Muscles stimulated at 30 Hz produced greater overall tetanic tension and, during a prolonged stimulation test, exerted a greater mean tension than muscles stimulated at 10 Hz (50 and 32% increase for animals stimulated for 8 and 24 h/day, respectively). Muscle mass was least reduced and fewer pathological abnormalities were observed in the muscles stimulated at 30 Hz. There were no apparent differences in the histochemistry or biochemistry between muscles stimulated at 10 and 30 Hz, which could account for these differences in muscle properties. These results indicate the 30-Hz paradigm may be better suited than 10 Hz continuous stimulation for applications requiring sustained muscle tension such as correction of scoliosis or muscle conditioning for motor prostheses.

Therapeutic stimulation of denervated muscles: The influence of pattern

“…6,[12][13][14]28 In the context of chronic stimulation, muscle mass and tetanic tension are preserved to a greater extent in innervated muscles subjected to bursts containing a highfrequency component. 9,10,18,32 In the present study, as in the related clinical studies, the primary aim was the restoration of muscle bulk, and frequencies were therefore chosen that were as high as possible, consistent with the long pulse durations needed to excite the fibers.…”

Stretch and force generation induce rapid hypertrophy and myosin isoform gene switching in adult skeletal muscle

“…As mentioned, previous workers have shown isoform switching using chronic stimulation over several weeks or months [7,28]. Our model differs in that protein synthesis is activated by stretch combined with electrical stimulation causing the muscle rapidly to produce new actin and myosin filaments in series and in parallel "201.…”

“…However, more recently, it was shown that stimulation with 30 Hz [28] or 60 Hz intermittent stimulation [29] was more effective in transforming fast into slow muscles than the continuous stimulation with 10 Hz used by previous workers.…”

Cardiac assistance from skeletal muscle: a reappraisal☆

“…Stimulus bursts containing a high-frequency component are the most effective for maintaining the mass and forcegenerating capacity of the muscle [51,[55][56][57]. Instead of conventional constant, high-frequency bursts, it is more physiological to use bursts in which the interpulse intervals are optimised for maximum force [58].…”