FUNCTIONAL EVALUATION SECTION   

Medicina dello Sport 2005 September;58(3):193-201

Copyright © 2005 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Effects of electrical stimulation on trophism of quadriceps femoris muscle

Gurin E., Ganzit G. P., Valenza S.

Istituto di Medicina dello Sport C.O.N.I. F.M.S.I. di Torino

Objective. The purpose of this study is to determine if neuromuscular electrical stimulation applied to the quadriceps femoris muscle increases strength and body composition in young women, healthy and sedentary. Besides to compare the effects of two different protocols of electrical stimulation for the frequency (28-55 Hz).
Methods. Fourteen young (18-50 years old), healthy and sedentary women participated in this investigation. We separated subjects in the group A and B. We valued the anthropometric measures (height, weight, circumferences, skinfold measurement technique, body composition with densitometry technique,) and the strength of the extensor and flexor muscles of the leg at the angular position of 90° knee flexed and the strength of the extensor muscles of the leg at the angular position of 180° knee flexed (dynamometric tests). We applied a protocol of 12 sessions of electrical stimulation to the quadriceps muscle with a frequency of 28 Hz in the group A and of 55 Hz in the group B.
Results. In the group A we observed a reduction of the skinfold thickness, a reduction of the circumference of the ankle and an increase of the muscular strength. In the group B we observed a reduction of the skinfold thickness and a reduction of the adipose tissue and an increase of the muscular tissue (densitometry). Besides we observed an increase of the muscular strength. We observed that the reduction of the adipose tissue and the increase of the muscular tissue in the group B (55 Hz) has been more than the increase of the group A.
Discussdion and conclusions. Twelve sessions of electrical stimulation applied to the quadriceps muscle of young, healthy and sedentary women determine the reduction of the adipose tissue, the increase of the muscular tissue and the increase of the muscular strength.