Effects of electrical muscle stimulation early in the quadriceps and tibialis anterior muscle of critically ill patients

Abstract Background: Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) is applied to critically ill patients in order to improve their muscle strength, thereby preventing hypotrophy and promoting functional recovery. Objective: To assess the effects of early EMS on the range of movement of the ankle joint, and on...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physiotherapy theory and practice 2014-05, Vol.30 (4), p.223-228
Main Authors: Falavigna, Letícia Ferreira, Silva, Michele Gonçalves, de Almeida Freitas, Amanda Lopes, Silva, Priscila Figueiredo dos Santos, Paiva Júnior, Marçal Durval Siqueira, de Castro, Célia Maria Machado Barbosa, Andrade, Maria do Amparo, Cavalcanti Gallindo, Marcos Antonio, Ribeiro, Luana Carneiro, Ramos, Francimar Ferrari, de Andrade, Flávio Maciel Dias, de França, Eduardo Eriko Tenório
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Ankle Joint - physiology
Critical illness
Critical Illness - rehabilitation
Electric Stimulation Therapy
electrical stimulation
Female
Humans
Leg - physiology
Male
Middle Aged
muscle weakness
Muscular Atrophy - prevention & control
Prospective Studies
Quadriceps Muscle - physiology
Range of Motion, Articular
Young Adult
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract Background: Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) is applied to critically ill patients in order to improve their muscle strength, thereby preventing hypotrophy and promoting functional recovery. Objective: To assess the effects of early EMS on the range of movement of the ankle joint, and on thigh and leg circumference in critically ill patients. Methods: This is a prospective randomized clinical trial comprising 11 patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. Before and after EMS the thigh and leg circumference in both lower limbs and the goniometry of the tibiotarsal joint were measured. The angle of 90° on the goniometer was taken as the standard neutral position (NP), with the arm fixed on the lateral malleolus of the ankle joint. Other measurements, namely dorsiflexion and plantar flexion, referred to as mobile arm, were taken from the NP. These recordings were obtained following an active contraction of the patients' muscles. Results: Compared with the electrostimulated limb, a difference in dorsiflexion of the control limb was observed (96.2 ± 24.9 versus 119.9 ± 14.1°; p = 0.01). A girth of 10 cm of the leg was found in limb reduction when compared to the electrostimulated one (24.7 ± 3.1 versus 26.4 ± 4.0 cm; p = 0.03). Conclusions: EMS used at low current intensity and for a short duration failed to prevent muscle atrophy in critically ill patients. However, we did find a significant improvement in active dorsiflexion of the ankle joint suggesting that it could help to prevent against stance plantar flexion in these patients.
ISSN:0959-3985
1532-5040
DOI:10.3109/09593985.2013.869773