Chronic effects of simultaneous application of whole-body vibration and neuromuscular electrical stimulation on blood flow in Spinal Cord Injury patients.

During the 12 weeks for the training period, the experimental group, completed a total of 30 sessions (frequency of 3 and 2 sessions a week on alternate weeks). Each session consisted of 10 minutes of simultaneous application of Whole Body Vibration (WBV) and Electromyostimulation (ES) seated in the wheelchair with their feet on the platform. The frequency of vibration was set at 10 Hz and the amplitude at 5 mm (peak to peak). When ES was used, a rectangular, biphasic and symmetric wave with a pulse width of 400 microseconds and 8 Hz was applied. Three, 2-mm-thick, self-adhesive electrodes were used on each leg: one electrode (10x5 cm) was placed about 2 cm below the popliteal fold, and 2 electrodes (5x5 cm) were placed as close as possible to the motor points of the gastrocnemius medialis and lateralis. Current intensity was increased until the subjects motor threshold (mean achieved intensity: 46.6 +/-12.3 mA increasing by 1mA per session.). Finally, interventions were applied by a qualified professional in sport sciences.