Efficacy of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in Geriatric Population
Condition: Age-Related Atrophy; Physical Disorder
MeSH terms: Atrophy
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The decline in physical function and strength was seen by the nature of aging. The older
      adults often complain of fatigue. For these reasons, proper rehabilitation approaches should
      be used to ensure healthy life and to keep the quality of life at the highest possible level
      by minimizing the decline seen with aging process. Exercise programs and Neuromuscular
      Electrical Stimulation (NMES) are applied in rehabilitation to restore muscular strength and
      improve physical performance. NMES is used to prevent the atrophy of nonuse, to increase
      joint range of motion, to re-educate muscle, to regulate spasticity, to replace orthosis, to
      improve motor involvement of muscle fibers. Despite the use of NMES for strengthening in the
      clinics, the application parameters and methods should be discussed. The frequency, the pulse
      duration, the on / off time, the amplitude, the waveform of the current and the application
      time vary between the studies. For geriatric populations, it is recommended that the highest
      intensity, biphasic symmetrical currents with a frequency in the range of 50-100 Hz, for
      100-400 μs, can be pulsed for ideal amplification. NMES is usually practiced by
      physiotherapists continuously for 20 minutes in to strengthen. However, in recent studies, it
      has been shown that continuous application of a single-session 100 Hz current for 20 minutes
      leads to intense fatigue and after a while the effect of the strengthening of the current has
      been removed. Therefore, intermittent applications have been proposed instead of continuous
      applications for 20 minutes. Considering the fragility and the presence of sarcopenia in the
      geriatric population, NMES applications should be preferred in which rest periods are given
      instead of continuous application for 20 minutes. In the literature, there is no study
      showing the effect of NMES on Quadriceps strength, fatigue and physical function by using
      quadriceps stimulation for 20 minutes using different stimulation periods.Therefore, in this
      study, will be investigated the possible effects of two different methods of NMES on
      Quadriceps strength, fatigue and physical function.
    


Intervention name(s): 5 minutes stimulation; 10 minutes stimulation
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): Before the NMES application, warming exercises will be performed on the lower extremity muscles for 5 minutes. NMES will be administered through Compex device (Physio, Chattanooga Corporation, Chattanooga, U.S.A.). Quadriceps will be stimulated bilaterally for 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks (totally 18 sessions). Four electrodes will be used on the femoral nerve, and motor points of the rectus femoris, vastus medialis, lateralis.The biphasic, symmetrical waveform will be used. The 100 Hz current will be applied for 5 minutes by 5 sec on: 15 sec off and than the muscle will be rested for 10 minutes. 5 minutes of NMES will be made in 4 sets. Fifteen contractions will be received at each set. The intensity of the current will be increased until the visible contraction is taken.; Before the NMES application, warming exercises will be performed on the lower extremity muscles for 5 minutes. NMES will be administered through Compex device (Physio, Chattanooga Corporation, Chattanooga, U.S.A.). Quadriceps will be stimulated bilaterally for 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks (totally 18 sessions). Four electrodes will be used on the femoral nerve, and motor points of the rectus femoris, vastus medialis, lateralis.The biphasic, symmetrical waveform will be used. The 100 Hz current will be applied for 10 minutes by 5 sec on: 15 sec off and than the muscle will be rested for 10 minutes. 10 minutes of NMES will be made in 2 sets. Thirty contractions will be received at each set. The intensity of the current will be increased until the visible contraction is taken.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Supportive Care
Keywords: neuromuscular electrical stimulation; geriatric population; physical function; quadriceps; fatigue