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Critical Reviews™ in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine

Published 4 issues per year

ISSN Print: 0896-2960

ISSN Online: 2162-6553

SJR: 0.141 SNIP: 0.129 CiteScore™:: 0.6 H-Index: 18

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A Critical Review of Electrical Stimulation of the Quadriceps Muscles

Volume 9, Issue 3-4, 1997, pp. 301-314
DOI: 10.1615/CritRevPhysRehabilMed.v9.i3-4.60
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ABSTRACT

Electrical stimulation (ES) has played an important role in the rehabilitation of muscle for many years. Recently, regimes and stimulators have become more sophisticated in an attempt to minimize loss of, or improve, muscle strength, atrophy, and function. Research into the quadriceps femoris group is divided into that performed on healthy muscle and that on atrophied or weak muscle as a result of knee disease, trauma, or immobilization. This review has found that there are conflicting results concerning the efficacy of ES on the healthy quadriceps. This is, in part, due to problems with outcome measures and differences with methodology, stimulation parameters, and delivery. Similarly, work on atrophied quadriceps has revealed some agreement in the effects of ES on function of the quadriceps and its cross-sectional area, but contradictory results in measures of strength, thigh girth, and biochemical markers. Although research into healthy quadriceps is an important indicator for patients with atrophied muscle, care should be taken when extrapolating results from the healthy volunteers to the patient population. Consequently, although ES is still a frequently used method of rehabilitation, there is considerable debate and some difficulty in obtaining a consensus of opinion on its efficacy in rehabilitation of the quadriceps.

CITED BY
  1. Bax Leon, Staes Filip, Verhagen Arianne, Does Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Strengthen the Quadriceps Femoris?, Sports Medicine, 35, 3, 2005. Crossref

  2. Harvey Lisa, Strength training, in Management of Spinal Cord Injuries, 2008. Crossref

  3. BARBER M., BRAID V., MITCHELL S.L., MARTIN B.J., GRANT S.J., GRANAT M., STOTT D.J., Electrical stimulation of quadriceps during rehabilitation following proximal femoral fracture, International Journal of Rehabilitation Research, 25, 1, 2002. Crossref

  4. Callaghan Michael J, Oldham Jacqueline A, Winstanley Julie, A comparison of two types of electrical stimulation of the quadriceps in the treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome. A pilot study, Clinical Rehabilitation, 15, 6, 2001. Crossref

  5. Bircan Cigdem, Senocak Ozlem, Peker Ozlen, Kaya Aylin, Tamc Sebnem Akgol, Gulbahar Selmin, Akalin Elif, Ef” cacy of two forms of electrical stimulation in increasing quadriceps strength: a randomized controlled trial, Clinical Rehabilitation, 16, 2, 2002. Crossref

  6. Novak Primož, Kopitar Andreja N., Vidmar Gaj, Ihan Alojz, Štefančič Martin, Therapeutic electrical stimulation and immune status in healthy men, International Journal of Rehabilitation Research, 41, 4, 2018. Crossref

  7. Kopitar Andreja N, Kotnik Vladimir, Vidmar Gaj, Ihan Alojz, Novak Primoz, Stefancic Martin, Therapeutic electric stimulation does not affect immune status in healthy individuals – a preliminary report, BioMedical Engineering OnLine, 11, 1, 2012. Crossref

  8. Lim Wootaek, Appropriateness of Tibial Rotation for Isolation of the Medial and Lateral Hamstrings, Annals of Applied Sport Science, 8, 4, 2020. Crossref

  9. Jeyaseelan Selvi M, Oldham Jacqueline Ann, Electrical stimulation as a treatment for stress incontinence, British Journal of Nursing, 9, 15, 2000. Crossref

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