Healthy
Conditions
Keywords
Electrical stimulation, Muscle Strength, Fatigue, Assessments, pain, Electromagnetic Fields, Physiotherapy
Brief summary
Muscle strength is the amount of force generated by muscle contraction. It could be measured with an isometric dynamometer. This is a validated tool that could be used to measure Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction (MVIC) and Maximal Electrical Induced Contraction (MEIC). It is claimed that higher MEIC values will result in more force gained. If a current is more tolerated it will be easier to achieve better MEIC values. Tolerance to an electrical stimulation could be measured with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). A ratio between Normalized MEIC / VAS is often used, implying that the current is better with a higher ratio. Muscle fatigue is defined as a temporary loss or decrease in force-generating ability due to previous contractions. It is claimed that medium frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) generates more fatigue than low frequency currents. Aussie is a medium-frequency alternating current, sinusoidal waveform, 1 KHz carrier frequency. Neo-Russian is a medium-frequency current, rectangular biphasic symmetrical waveform, 2,5 KHz carrier frequency. Rectangular Biphasic symmetrical (RBS) waveform is a type of Low Pulsed Current (LPC), claimed to be better than classical Russian Current. Purpose: As it has been claimed that LPC is better in MEIC and tolerance, the aim of this study is to compare it with two newer medium frequency currents in terms of MEIC, tolerance and fatigue. Methods: Thirty male subjects, right leg dominant, will receive randomly the 3 types of electrical stimulation. Before that, the MVIC will be measured for data normalization. The MVIC and MEIC will be measured with an isometric dynamometer. In both measurements, subjects will be asked to perform three reps (5 sec work x 120 sec rest) and the best one will be used. Whenever the third one was the best, additional measurements will be taken until a decrease in torque will be obtained to determine the maximum. To apply Aussie electrical stimulation, an Aussie Sport (Ibramed) will be used. To apply Neo-Russian, a Neurodyn III (Ibramed) will be used. To apply RBS, a Genesy (Globus) will be used. The VAS will be used to assess tolerance to each treatment. One week later, the subjects will receive, randomly, a fatigue protocol that consists in 21 reps (5 sec work x 5 sec rest) of electrical stimulation with the three types of current. The data will be normalized with the MVIC and the reps equal or below 50 % of the first rep will be considered as a fatigue rep.
Interventions
DEVICENeo-Russian
Subjects will receive Neo-Russian electrical stimulation with three reps (5 sec work x 60 sec rest), and the Maximal Electrical Induced Contraction (MEIC) will be measured. They will be asked how uncomfortable the stimulation was, using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). One week later, subjects will receive a fatigue protocol that consists in 21 reps (5 sec work x 5 sec rest), and the Maximal Electrical Induced Contraction (MEIC) will be measured for each contraction.
DEVICEAussie
Subjects will receive Aussie electrical stimulation with three reps (5 sec work x 60 sec rest), and the Maximal Electrical Induced Contraction (MEIC) will be measured. They will be asked how uncomfortable the stimulation was, using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). One week later, subjects will receive a fatigue protocol that consists in 21 reps (5 sec work x 5 sec rest), and the Maximal Electrical Induced Contraction (MEIC) will be measured for each contraction.
DEVICERBS
Subjects will receive RBS electrical stimulation with three reps (5 sec work x 60 sec rest), and the Maximal Electrical Induced Contraction (MEIC) will be measured. They will be asked how uncomfortable the stimulation was, using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). One week later, subjects will receive a fatigue protocol that consists in 21 reps (5 sec work x 5 sec rest), and the Maximal Electrical Induced Contraction (MEIC) will be measured for each contraction.
DEVICERBS-IPI
Subjects will receive RBS-IPI electrical stimulation with three reps (5 sec work x 60 sec rest), and the Maximal Electrical Induced Contraction (MEIC) will be measured. They will be asked how uncomfortable the stimulation was, using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). One week later, subjects will receive a fatigue protocol that consists in 21 reps (5 sec work x 5 sec rest), and the Maximal Electrical Induced Contraction (MEIC) will be measured for each contraction.
DEVICEHIFEM
Subjects will receive HIFEM electrical stimulation with three reps (5 sec work x 60 sec rest), and the Maximal Electrical Induced Contraction (MEIC) will be measured. They will be asked how uncomfortable the stimulation was, using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). One week later, subjects will receive a fatigue protocol that consists in 21 reps (5 sec work x 5 sec rest), and the Maximal Electrical Induced Contraction (MEIC) will be measured for each contraction.
Sponsors
Maimonides University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Intervention model description
30 male subjects will receive 4 types of electrical stimulation (Aussie, Neo-Russian, Rectangular biphasic symmetric waveform, Rectangular biphasic symmetric waveform with intra-pulse interval) and High Intensity Focused Electromagnetic Field (HIFEM) in a randomized order. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and maximal elicited induced contraction (MEIC) will be measured with an isometric dynamometer. The best rep will be used. Whenever the third one is the best, additional measurements will be taken until a decrease in torque is obtained to determine the maximum. MVIC will be used for data normalization. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) will be used to assess tolerance to treatment. One week later, subjects will receive, randomly, a fatigue protocol with the 4 types of electrical stimulation and the HIFEM, which consists in 21 reps. A fatigue index (FI) will be calculated.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to 30 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Healthy volunteers * Male * Right leg dominant * Exercising regularly
Exclusion criteria
* History of injuries in the right leg * Skin lesions * Having a pacemaker * Having a cardiovascular disease. * Having a neurological disorder. * Exercise 72 h before the procedure.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction (MVIC) | Day 1 | Force generated by the patient during a maximal voluntary isometric contraction, measured by an isometric dynamometer with load cell and computer interface. The best of the 3 repetitions will be considered. Whenever the third one is the best, additional measurements will be taken until a decrease in torque is obtained in order to determine the maximum. Unit: Newtons (N) |
| Maximal Electrical Induced Contraction (MEIC) | Day 1 | Force generated in the muscle while applying electrical stimulation and HIFEM, measured by an isometric dynamometer with load cell and computer interface. This data (in Newtons) will be normalized with the MVIC. Unit: percentage of MVIC |
| Visual Analogue Scale | Day 1 | Visual Analogue Scale (VAS): Magnitude of pain, marked in a analogue scale by participants, to determine how unpleasant is each type of stimulation (applied in randomized order). Expresed in centimeters. * Minimum value: 0 * Maximum value: 10 * A higher score implicates a worse outcome. VAS wil be evaluated 5 times, 1 per type of stimulation. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Fatigue index | Day 7 | The MEIC decrease between the first and the 21st rep, previously normalized with the MVIC. * Minimum value: -1 * Maximum value: 1 * The lower the value, the greater the fatigue. |
Countries
Argentina
Contacts
Primary ContactOscar Ronzio, DHSc PT
Outcome results
None listed