Caggiano E, Emrey T, Shirley S, Craik R L
Delaware Valley Physical Therapy Associates, Lawrenceville, NJ.
J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1994 Jul;20(1):22-8. doi: 10.2519/jospt.1994.20.1.22.
Since musculoskeletal impairment increases with age, it is important to determine if exercise changes age-related muscle weakness. This study compared the training effects of electrical stimulation and voluntary isometric contraction, the traditional exercise, on the quadriceps femoris in males 65 years and older. Eighteen informed, nondisabled males, 72 +/- 4 years of age, participated in 12 training sessions over 4 weeks. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) torque was measured with a Cybex II dynamometer prior to and following training. An interclass correlation coefficient (3,1) of 0.982 demonstrated repeated reliable torque measurement. The electrical stimulation group trained at an average of 36% of pretest MVIC; the traditional exercise group trained at an average of 42% MVIC. Average (F = 14.06, p = 0.004) and peak (F = 14.32, p = 0.004) torque values were increased with both modes of training. Both methods of training using a low training load were effective in increasing torque in this older male sample. Electrical stimulation has the same potential as traditional exercise to provide improved strength for aged males. Future research should examine electrical stimulation in older persons with compromised ability to exercise using traditional methods.
由于肌肉骨骼损伤会随着年龄增长而增加，因此确定运动是否能改变与年龄相关的肌肉无力状况至关重要。本研究比较了电刺激和传统运动方式——主动等长收缩，对65岁及以上男性股四头肌的训练效果。18名年龄在72±4岁、意识清醒且无残疾的男性参与了为期4周的12次训练课程。在训练前后，使用Cybex II测力计测量最大自主等长收缩（MVIC）扭矩。组内相关系数（3,1）为0.982，表明扭矩测量具有重复可靠性。电刺激组的训练强度平均为测试前MVIC的36%；传统运动组的训练强度平均为MVIC的42%。两种训练方式均使平均（F = 14.06，p = 0.004）和峰值（F = 14.32，p = 0.004）扭矩值增加。在这个老年男性样本中，两种低训练负荷的训练方法在增加扭矩方面均有效。电刺激与传统运动在增强老年男性力量方面具有同样的潜力。未来的研究应探讨对于那些使用传统方法进行运动能力受损的老年人，电刺激的效果。
