Patients with chronic high spinal cord injury can be safely treated with neuromuscular electrical stimulation: cardiovascular function is unaffected

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:To identify changes in blood pressure and heart rate in individuals with chronic paraplegia undergone neuromuscular electrical stimulation treatment. METHOD: Design: Observational prospective. Participants: Twenty individuals with chronic paraplegia (neurological level above T6) belonging to two different groups (G1 and G2) were submitted to an upper limb exercise test. G1 patients (n=13) had been treated with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (25Hz, pulses of 300μs, 100V) for 2 years or more, at least once a week; G2 patients (n=7) did not receive neuromuscular electrical stimulation treatment; G3 individuals (n=6) were healthy volunteers. Procedures: Arterial blood pressure and heart rate were measured during four phases of the exercise test: at initial rest, during warmup, during the exercise itself, and at rest after the exercise. RESULTS: Systolic and diastolic blood pressures showed no statistical difference between groups. In the comparison between exercise phases, regardless of the group, systolic pressure was significantly higher and diastolic pressure significantly lower at the end of the exercise itself, when compared to all other phases. Resting heart rate was significantly lower in healthy controls vs. G1 and G2, which were not significantly different between themselves. Exercise increased heart rate in all groups. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the groups are normotensive and homogeneous in their results; heart rate was higher in both paraplegic groups compared to healthy controls, but no difference was found between treated vs. untreated groups. Thus, neuromuscular electrical stimulation is a safe and effective way to treat individuals with chronic paraplegia.

Attenuation of autonomic dysreflexia during functional electrical stimulation cycling by neuromuscular electrical stimulation training: case reports

“…Recently, it has been shown that persons with SCI above or at T6 can be safely treated with NMES to manage variations in BP [25]. Twenty participants with chronic paraplegia were divided into two groups (G1 and G2) and subjected to an upper limb exercise test.…”

“…Twenty participants with chronic paraplegia were divided into two groups (G1 and G2) and subjected to an upper limb exercise test. The G1 (T2-T6, n = 13) participants were treated with NMES for 2 years or more, at least once a week and G2 (T3-T5, n = 7) participants did not receive NMES training [25]. No differences were noted in BP during upper limb exercise test in any of groups.…”