Short-term microcurrent electrical neuromuscular stimulation to improve muscle function in the elderly

Abstract

Background:Microcurrent electrical neuromuscular stimulation (MENS) has been suggested to improve muscle function and restore damaged muscle. However, current evidence is insufficient to determine the effectiveness of this therapy in age-dependent muscle weakness. Therefore, a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled clinical trial was designed to evaluate the effects of short-term MENS on muscle function in the elderly.Methods:A total of 38 healthy elderly participants aged 65 years and above were enrolled and randomly divided into 2 stimulation groups: real or sham MENS group. Real or sham MENS were applied to the 8 anatomical points of the dominant arm and leg during the course of 40 minutes. We performed muscle function tests at baseline and after the intervention: the handgrip strength tests (HGS, kg), the root mean square values (RMS, μV), and the single leg heel-rise tests (HRT) to determine changes in the strength, activity, and endurance of the elderly muscle, respectively.Results:In the real MENS group, the mean values of the HGS and the number of plantar flexions were significantly increased, but the RMS value of the electromyography signal was significantly decreased after the real intervention (P < .05). However, the sham MENS group showed a significant decrease in the number of plantar flexions and the total time for HRT after the sham stimulation (P < .05). The mean difference in the RMS value was significantly lower, but the number of plantar flexions and the total time for HRT was significantly higher in the real MENS group than in the sham MENS group (P < .05).Conclusion:The findings suggest that short-term application of MENS may play a partial role in enhancing physical activities of the elderly, as it can improve some muscle function.

Effectiveness of combining microcurrent with resistance training in trained males

“…More recently Noites et al (2015), reported promising results when combining a microcurrent treatment with endurance training, as it significantly reduced internal fat deposition when compared to performing exercise alone. Moreover, an acute enhancement effect on muscular function has also been reported in healthy elderly individuals after being exposed to a short-term 40 min microcurrent protocol (Kwon et al 2017).…”

“…These proposed effects support the notion that combining microcurrent interventions with exercise might aid recovery but also it might elicit superior training outcomes. In this context, combining microcurrent with training could be an effective strategy for improving muscle function during exercise, attenuate muscle damage and optimize recovery (Kwon et al 2017) by maximizing the skeletal muscle protein synthesis response (Ohno et al 2019) and increasing the mitotic activity of satellite cells (Park et al 2019). Recent studies in animals suggested positive effects of microcurrent to increase MM isoenzyme of creatine kinase, a marker of myogenic differentiation (Ohno et al 2019) and to activate intracellular signalling pathways involved in the activation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) (Moon et al 2018; Ohno et al 2019).…”

“…Recent studies in animals suggested positive effects of microcurrent to increase MM isoenzyme of creatine kinase, a marker of myogenic differentiation (Ohno et al 2019) and to activate intracellular signalling pathways involved in the activation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) (Moon et al 2018; Ohno et al 2019). Furthermore, compared to sham treatment microcurrent therapy can also prevent muscle damage (Lambert et al 2002; Kwon et al 2017). Lambert et al (2002) observed positive effects of a 96-h microcurrent protocol in the reduction of symptoms associated with muscle damage after performing 5 sets of 25 eccentric contractions of the elbow flexors at 80% of the maximal eccentric force.…”

Effects of whole-body ELECTROMYOSTIMULATION on health and performance: a systematic review

“…On the other hand, what has been demonstrated in studies with local EMS is the effectiveness of training with EMS as a means for functional improvement in elderly populations [45, 46], which makes the appearance of new research on WB-EMS in these population groups necessary with parameters more adapted to their needs.…”

Comparative Study of Pain Relief in Two Non-Pharmacological Treatments in Patients with Partial Rotator Cuff Tears: A Randomized Trial

“…A recent study demonstrated that patients receiving MENS as frequently as three times a week for one and a half month showed unquestionably lower overall pain and better functional status after six weeks than those receiving placebo (2). Although the findings suggest that the short-term application of MENS may play a partial role in enhancing physical activities, it can improve the function of some muscles (27, 28). To our knowledge, our study is the first to compare these two methods of electrotherapy (MENS vs. TENS) in patients with partial rotator cuff tear.…”