Update article/Mise au point
Electrical stimulation and muscle strengtheningElectrostimulation et gain de force musculaire

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annrmp.2008.05.001Get rights and content

Abstract

Objectives

To identify the effects of application methods and indications of direct muscle electrostimulation on strength gain.

Methods

Literature review and analysis of articles from Medline database with the following entries: muscular or neuromuscular, electromyostimulation, electrical stimulation, strengthening, strength training, immobilization, muscle dystrophy, bed-rest, bed-bound, knee or hip surgery, postoperative phase, cachexia, sarcopenia, and their French equivalent.

Results

Because of its specific muscle recruitment order, different from that of voluntary contraction, direct muscle electrostimulation is theoretically a complementary tool for muscle strengthening. It can be used in healthy subjects and in several affections associated with muscle function loss. Its interest seems well-established for post-traumatic or postsurgery lower-limb immobilizations but too few controlled studies have clearly shown the overall benefits of its application in other indications. Whatever the indication, superimposed or combined electrostimulation techniques are generally more efficient than electrostimulation alone.

Conclusion

Even though widely used, the level of evidence for the efficiency of electromyostimulation is still low. For strength gains, it yielded no higher benefits than traditional strengthening methods. Its interest should be tested in medical affections leading to major muscle deconditioning or in sarcopenia.

Résumé

Objectifs

Préciser les effets, en termes de gain de force, les méthodes d’application et les indications de l’électrostimulation musculaire directe.

Méthode

Revue de la littérature et analyse d’articles sélectionnés à partir de la base de données Medline selon les mots clés suivants : « muscular or neuromuscular, electromyostimulation, electrical stimulation, strengthening, strength training, immobilization, muscle dystrophy, bed-rest, bed-bound, knee or hip surgery, postoperative phase, cachexia, sarcopenia » ou leurs équivalents français.

Résultats

En entraînant un recrutement musculaire spécifique, différent de celui obtenu par la contraction volontaire, l’électrostimulation musculaire directe représente en théorie un moyen complémentaire de renforcement musculaire utilisable chez le sujet sain et lors de différentes affections s’accompagnant d’une dégradation de la fonction musculaire. Si dans le cadre des immobilisations segmentaires des membres inférieurs, post-traumatiques ou postchirurgicales, l’intérêt de l’électromyostimulation paraît bien établi, le nombre insuffisant d’études contrôlées dans les autres indications ne permet pas de déterminer avec précision l’ensemble des bénéfices de cette technique. Quelle que soit l’indication, les techniques d’électrostimulation musculaire surimposée ou combinée aux contractions volontaires paraissent plus performantes que l’utilisation isolée de l’électrostimulation.

Conclusion

Bien que couramment employée, l’efficacité de l’électromyostimulation reste insuffisamment démontrée. En termes de gain de force, la supériorité de cette technique par rapport aux méthodes traditionnelles de renforcement musculaire n’est pas établie. Son intérêt, dans le cadre d’affections médicales conduisant à un déconditionnement musculaire majeur ou dans la sarcopénie, mériterait d’être précisé à travers des études contrôlées.

Section snippets

History of direct muscle electrostimulation

Physiological applications of motor electrostimulation began in the 19th century, with Duchenne de Boulogne. Using the technique of inductive currents developed by Faraday in 1831 (faradic currents), Duchenne de Boulogne meticulously described muscle kinesiology and its limits: “If it is true that electromuscular exploration can help to know exactly the actual action of a muscle, I must say that it seldom teach what are the other muscles involved in the physiological movement it is bound to

Historique de l’électrostimulation musculaire directe

Les applications physiologiques de l’électrostimulation motrice ont débuté au xixe siècle avec Duchenne de Boulogne. Appliquant la technique des courants par induction mise au point par Faraday en 1831 (courant faradique), Duchenne de Boulogne s’attache à une observation minutieuse de la cinésiologie musculaire, tout en en soulignant les limites : « en effet, s’il est vrai que l’exploration électromusculaire peut faire connaître exactement l’action propre d’un muscle, je dois faire observer que

References (58)

  • I. Bautmans et al.

    Biochemical changes in response to intensive resistance exercise training in the elderly

    Gerontology

    (2005)
  • L. Bax et al.

    Does neuromuscular electrical stimulation strengthen the quadriceps femoris? A systematic review of randomised controlled trials

    Sports Med

    (2005)
  • S.E. Borst

    Interventions for sarcopenia and muscle weakness in older people

    Age Ageing

    (2004)
  • G. Bourjeily-Habr et al.

    Randomised controlled trial of transcutaneous electrical muscle stimulation of the lower extremities in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

    Thorax

    (2002)
  • E. Caggiano et al.

    Effects of electrical stimulation or voluntary contraction for strengthening the quadriceps femoris muscles in an aged male population

    J Orthop Sports Phys Ther

    (1994)
  • D.F. Collins

    Central contributions to contractions evoked by tetanic neuromuscular electrical stimulation

    Exerc Sport Sci Rev

    (2007)
  • D.F. Collins et al.

    Large involuntary forces consistent with plateau-like behavior of human motoneurons

    J Neurosci

    (2001)
  • D.F. Collins et al.

    Sustained contractions produced by plateau-like behaviour in human motoneurones

    J Physiol

    (2002)
  • V. Draper et al.

    Electrical stimulation versus electromyographic biofeedback in the recovery of quadriceps femoris muscle function following anterior cruciate ligament surgery

    Phys Ther

    (1991)
  • V. Dubowitz

    Responses of diseased muscle to electrical and mechanical intervention

    Ciba Found Symp

    (1988)
  • Duchenne de Boulogne JB. Physiologie des mouvements démontrés à l’aide de l’expérimentation électrique et de...
  • M.R. Duvoisin et al.

    Characteristics and preliminary observations of the influence of electromyostimulation on the size and function of human skeletal muscle during 30 days of simulated microgravity

    Aviat Space Environ Med

    (1989)
  • D.L. Fehlings et al.

    Evaluation of therapeutic electrical stimulation to improve muscle strength and function in children with type II/III spinal muscular atrophy

    Dev Med Child Neurol

    (2002)
  • K. Gerrits et al.

    Contractile properties of knee-extensors in one single family with nemaline myopathy: central and peripheral aspects of muscle activation

    Clin Physiol Funct Imaging

    (2007)
  • J. Gondin et al.

    Neural and muscular changes to detraining after electrostimulation training

    Eur J Appl Physiol

    (2006)
  • N. Gould et al.

    Transcutaneous muscle stimulation as a method to retard disuse atrophy

    Clin Orthop Relat Res

    (1982)
  • C.M. Gregory et al.

    Recruitment patterns in human skeletal muscle during electrical stimulation

    Phys Ther

    (2005)
  • B.S. Han et al.

    Functional magnetic resonance image finding of cortical activation by neuromuscular electrical stimulation on wrist extensor muscles

    Am J Phys Med Rehabil

    (2003)
  • J.A. Herrero et al.

    Electromyostimulation and plyometric training effects on jumping and sprint time

    Int J Sports Med

    (2006)
  • Cited by (56)

    • Evaluation of the Combined Application of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation and Volitional Contractions on Thigh Muscle Strength, Knee Pain, and Physical Performance in Women at Risk for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

      2018, PM and R
      Citation Excerpt :

      Moreover, the combined application of NMES and VC might be more effective than NMES or VC alone [18]. Recent studies have suggested that a hybrid training system (HTS) that combines applications of NMES with VCs (NMES-VC) is effective in improving coordination of muscle activation and accelerating rehabilitation programs compared with NMES alone [18,20]. The HTS electrically stimulates antagonist muscles to contract eccentrically, providing resistance for the agonist muscle group during exercise [21].

    • Electrotherapy

      2016, Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Secrets: Third Edition
    • The effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on muscle strength, functional capacity and body composition in haemodialysis patients

      2017, Nefrologia
      Citation Excerpt :

      In some cases, due to its clinical characteristics and the associated comorbidity, patients are unable to perform physical exercise programmes. The few studies published in the literature regarding the role of NMES, mainly in patients with chronic heart failure or lung disease, show favourable effects on muscle composition and functional capacity.29–31 In addition, they appear to be easy to apply and safe without serious complications.14,16,32

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    1

    Équipe multidisciplinaire en réadaptation locomotrice (initiative stratégique des IRSC, nanomédecine et médecine régénérative S. Rossignol).

    View full text