Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) combined with blood flow restriction increases fatigue and perceptual variables compared with NMES alone

Head, P., Waldron, Mark, Theis, Nicola ORCID: 0000-0002-0775-1355 and Patterson, Stephen D. (2021) Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) combined with blood flow restriction increases fatigue and perceptual variables compared with NMES alone. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 30 (3). pp. 375-383. doi:10.1123/jsr.2019-0505

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Abstract

Context: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) combined with blood flow restriction (BFR) has been shown to improve muscular strength and size greater than NMES alone. However, the previous studies use varied methodologies not recommended by previous NMES or BFR research. Objective: The present study investigated the acute effects of NMES combined with varying degrees of BFR, using research recommended procedures to enhance understanding and the clinical applicability of this combination. Design: Randomised crossover. Setting: Physiology laboratory. Participants: 20 healthy adults (age: 27 ± 4; height: 177 ± 8 cm; body mass: 77 ± 13 kg). Interventions: Six sessions separated by at least seven days. The first two visits served as familiarisation, with the experimental conditions performed in the final four sessions; NMES alone, NMES 40% BFR, NMES 60% BFR and NMES 80% BFR. Main outcome measures: Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), muscle thickness, blood pressure, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and pain were all recorded before and after each condition. Results: NMES 80% BFR caused greater MVIC decline than any other condition (-38.9 ± 22.3 Nm, p < 0.01). Vastus medialis and VL muscle thickness acutely increased after all experimental conditions (p < 0.05). Pain and RPE ratings were higher after NMES 80% BFR, compared with all other experimental conditions (p < 0.05). No cardiovascular effects were observed between conditions. Conclusion: NMES combined with 80% BFR caused greater acute force decrement than the other conditions. Although, greater perceptual ratings of pain and RPE were observed with NMES 80% BFR. These acute observations must be investigated during chronic interventions to corroborate any relationship to changes in muscle strength and size in clinical populations.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Neuromuscular electrical stimulation; Blood flow restriction; Fatigue; Muscle swelling
Subjects:	Q Science > QM Human anatomy Q Science > QP Physiology R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine R Medicine > RM Therapeutics. Pharmacology > RM695 Physical medicine. physical therapy including massage, exercise, occupational therapy, hydrotherapy, phototherapy, radiotherapy, thermotherapy, electrotherapy
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education and Science
Research Priority Areas:	Health, Life Sciences, Sport and Wellbeing
Depositing User:	Rhiannon Goodland
Date Deposited:	11 Jun 2020 14:04
Last Modified:	31 Aug 2023 09:07
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/8459

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