McMiken D F, Todd-Smith M, Thompson C
Scand J Rehabil Med. 1983;15(1):25-8.
The effectiveness of cutaneous electrical stimulation as a muscle-strengthening technique was evaluated by comparison with an isometric regime. Sixteen normal healthy subjects were randomly assigned to either an electrical group or an isometric group. A pretest was given of maximum voluntary force in the quadriceps (extensor) muscles, measured with a cable tensiometer. Subjects then trained (isometrically or by electrical stimulation) four days per week for three weeks. Training by electrical stimulation was via a square-wave pulse (75 Hz and 0.1 ms) with the voltage determined by subject tolerance for ten, 10-sec induced contractions (with 50-sec rest intervals). Isometric training consisted of ten, 10-sec maximal contractions (with 50-sec rest intervals) at each session. Feedback of the generated force was standardised for both groups. Post-training measures were then administered using the same protocol as the pretest. Both groups demonstrated a marked improvement in quadriceps strength of 22 +/- 5.3% for the electrical group and 25 +/- 6.9% increase for the isometric group (p less than 0.02). The change in strength was apparently not dependent on the magnitude of the stimulating voltage (5-10 V) nor on the tension induced. There was no significant difference in the strength gains achieved by the two regimes (p greater than 0.05). No pain, muscle lesions or other ill effects were observed with electrical stimulation. We conclude that cutaneous electrical stimulation is a viable strengthening technique. There are obvious practical applications of this technique to the rehabilitation of patients who are not able to maintain an effective voluntary contraction.
通过与等长训练方案进行比较，评估了皮肤电刺激作为一种肌肉强化技术的有效性。16名正常健康受试者被随机分为电刺激组或等长训练组。使用电缆张力计对股四头肌（伸肌）的最大自主力量进行了预测试。然后，受试者每周训练四天，持续三周（等长训练或电刺激训练）。电刺激训练通过方波脉冲（75Hz和0.1ms）进行，电压由受试者对十次10秒诱发收缩（间隔50秒休息）的耐受程度决定。等长训练包括每次训练进行十次10秒的最大收缩（间隔50秒休息）。两组的力量反馈均进行了标准化。训练后采用与预测试相同的方案进行测量。两组的股四头肌力量均有显著提高，电刺激组提高了22±5.3%，等长训练组提高了25±6.9%（p<0.02）。力量的变化显然不取决于刺激电压的大小（5 - 10V），也不取决于诱发的张力。两种训练方案在力量增加方面没有显著差异（p>0.05）。电刺激未观察到疼痛、肌肉损伤或其他不良影响。我们得出结论认为，皮肤电刺激是一种可行的强化技术。该技术对于无法维持有效自主收缩的患者康复具有明显的实际应用价值。
