Muscle atrophy is prevented in patients with acute spinal cord injury using functional electrical stimulation.

Author: Baldi J C; Jackson R D; Moraille R; Mysiw W J

Journal / Proceeding: SPINAL CORD, (1998 Jul) 36 (7) 463-9. Journal code: 9609749. ISSN: 1362-4393.

Abstract: Severe muscle atrophy occurs rapidly following traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Previous research shows that neuromuscular or ‘functional' electrical stimulation (FES), particularly FES-cycle ergometry (FES-CE) can cause muscle hypertrophy in individuals with chronic SCI (> 1 year post-injury). However, the modest degree of hypertrophy in these already atrophied muscles has lessened earlier hopes that FES therapy would reduce secondary impairments of SCI. It is not known whether FES treatments are effective when used to prevent, rather than reverse, muscle atrophy in individuals with acute SCI. This study explored whether unloaded isometric FES contractions (FES-IC) or FES-CE decreased subsequent muscle atrophy in individual with acute SCI.

Institute: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, USA.

Language: English