• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.123-128
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• 2018

Purpose: This study examined the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and horseback riding using a robotic device on the trunk muscle activity and gross motor function in children with spastic diplegia. Methods: Children with spastic diplegia were divided into two groups: an experimental group (NMES and horseback riding using a robotic device [n=10]) and a control group (placebo NMES and horseback riding using a robotic device [n=10]). Each group received general physical therapy and occupational therapy. Each intervention involved the administration of NMES for 15 minutes and horseback riding using robotic device therapy for 15 minutes three times a week for 4 weeks. The evaluation included both the rectus abdominis muscles (RA), external oblique muscles (EO), thoracic paraspinal muscles (TP), and lumbar paraspinal muscles (LP) activity and GMFM. Results: The RA, EO, TP, and LP muscle activity, GMFM C, D, and E were increased significantly in the experimental and control groups. A significant increase in both the TP muscle activity and GMFM D was observed in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: This study showed that horseback riding using a robotic device is an effective intervention for trunk muscle activity and GMFM in children with spastic diplegia. However, if NMES is added to the back muscles, it is possible to further increase the thoracic paraspinal muscle activity and standing ability.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.25-35
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was compared to MTICs(maximal tolerated isometric contraction), decrement and recovery. For this, using isokinetic exercise analysis device(Biodex Medical Systems Inc., Biodex System 3PRO, USA), low rate(20 Hz) and high rate(100 Hz) NMES(neuromuscular electrical stimulation) were applied to the quadriceps muscles of fifteen patients with spastic hemiplegia caused by lesions in the central nervous system. The results were as follows: 1. It was shown to fast decrement in the middle of phase at low rate NMES and to slow decrement of MTIC response at high rate NMES(p<.01). 2. It was shown to fast recovery at high rate NMES and to slow recovery at low rate NMES in recovery tendency of MTIC(p<.01). These conclusions suggest that NMES of high rate caused to slow fatigue and fast recovery different from low rate NMES.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.28-33
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• 2021

Purpose: This study examined the effects of heel raise exercises combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on the muscle strength and postural control ability of subjects with functional ankle instability (FAI). Methods: Twenty-two subjects with FAI participated in this study. They were assigned randomly to two groups: 11 each in the NMES and the sham-NMES groups. Heel raise exercise was applied, and NMES electrodes were attached to the peroneus longus muscles. The NMES group applied NMES during the heel raise exercise. NMES was applied for 20 minutes during the heel raise exercise. The heel raise exercise was performed four times a week for five weeks. The muscle strength and balance error scoring system (BESS) were measured before and after the intervention. Results: A comparison of before and after the intervention within the groups revealed improved muscle strength in the NMES and Sham-NMES groups, but the BESS was improved under all conditions only in the NMES group. The Sham-NMES group showed no improvement in the unstable support surface. Furthermore, when comparing the amount of change before and after the intervention between the groups, there were significant differences in the total score and unstable support in the BESS and muscle strength. Conclusion: NMES had a positive effect on the functional activities of the functional ankle instability subjects, such as balancing on an unstable support surface during postural control and increasing muscle strength.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.103-108
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• 2009

Purpose: Electrical stimulation is one of several treatments recommended for RA patients. Electrical stimulation of RA patients, reduces pain, or facilitates joint motion prior to exercises. However, there is still limited evidence on the efficacy of electrical stimulation and thus any conclusions drawn about this method remain controversial. Recently, Microcurrent Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation (MENS) has received significant attention as a potential method of electrical stimulation. In this study, we investigated the effect of microcurrent treatment in rheumatoid arthritis rat. Methods: Subjects were allocated either to the control group or experimental group, which was subject to microcurrent stimulation. Interleukin-1 expression in the metatarsophlangeal joint and the oedema index in the ankle were used for classification and subsequent evaluation of pathology. Subjects were assessed at 1, 7 and 14 days after inducing rheumatoid arthritis through adjuvant injection. Thirty-six subjects, 18 in each group, were used in this study. Statistical analysis was performed by calculating the differences between the two groups and between each interval assessment. Categorical variables were compared between the two groups with the paired-T test. The one-way ANOVA test was performed to assess changes in ordinal variables. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. Statistically significant differences were found between the two groups. The biological marker of pro-inflammatory cytokine and oedema index were decreased in response to this treatment. Conclusion: These data show that treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with a microcurrent stimulation device reduced the oedema index and pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.112-118
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• 2014

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an exercise with and without neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) of the quadriceps femoris muscle, on strength, pain, and weight distribution in patients with knee instability post surgery. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty patients in the early stage of rehabilitation after knee surgery were recruited as subjects and were randomly divided into either experimental group (exercise combined with NMES) (n=10) or control group (n=10). Both groups received strength training of the lower limb for 20 min/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks. The experimental group used NMES for unilateral quadriceps femoris training with incremental increases in the intensity of isometric contraction over 4 weeks. Outcome measurements were assessed using the digital manual muscle testing, 30-chair stand test (30CST), numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) and weight distribution using the foot analyzer before and after 4 weeks of training. Results: After the 4-week intervention, knee extensor strength increased significantly in the experimental group post intervention (p<0.05), and there was a significant improvement in the experimental group compared with the control group (p<0.05). The 30CST and NPRS scores improved significantly in the experimental group compared to the control group (p<0.05), and there was a significant difference between the two groups (p<0.05). Weight distribution was significantly improved in the experimental group compared with the control group, (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference in improvement between the two groups. Conclusions: This study showed that NMES combined with strengthening exercises of the lower limbs is effective in improving lower limb pain and strength in patients with instability after knee surgery.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.250-257
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• 2019

Objectives: Flatfoot, or low medial longitudinal arch, contributes to back and lower extremity injuries and is caused by weak abductor hallucis (AbdH) muscles. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of short foot exercise (SFE) alone or with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on navicular height, the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the AbdH muscle, and AbdH muscle activity in flexible flatfoot. Methods: Thirty-six otherwise healthy people with flexible flatfoot were randomly assigned to a group that received SFE with placebo NMES treatment (the control group) or a group that received both SFE and NMES treatment (the experimental group). Each group received 4 weeks of treatment (SFE alone or SFE with NMES). Navicular height, the CSA of the AbdH muscle, and AbdH muscle activity were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: No significant differences were found in navicular height or the CSA of the AbdH muscle between the control and experimental groups, while AbdH muscle activity showed a statistically significant difference between the groups ($SFE=73.9{\pm}11.0%$ of maximal voluntary isometric contraction [MVIC]; SFE with $NMES=81.4{\pm}8.3%$ of MVIC; p<0.05). Moreover, the CSA of the AbdH muscle showed a statistically significant increase after treatment in the SFE with NMES group ($pre-treatment=218.6{\pm}53.2mm^2$ ; $post-treatment=256.9{\pm}70.5mm^2$ ; p<0.05). Conclusions: SFE with NMES was more effective than SFE alone in increasing AbdH muscle activity. Therefore, SFE with NMES should be recommended to correct or prevent abnormalities in people with flexible flatfoot by a physiotherapist or medical care team.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.15-29
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• 2023

Objectives The purpose of this study is to systematically review the effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation treatment on muscle wasting in cancer patients. Methods Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were searched from seven online databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, Korean studies Information Service System, Research Information Sharing Service. The selected RCTs were evaluated for methodological quality through the Cochrane RoB. Results A total of 126 articles were identified, and 4 randomized controlled trials were selected for systematic review. In one study, it was found that there were statistically significant improvements in the Health-Related Quality of Life (FACTH&N total score, p<0.001). Additionally, significant effects were observed in measurements that represented the size of the quadriceps muscle (cross-sectional area of Vastus lateralis and Rectus femoris, p=0.004), maximum muscle strength, the twitch response of resistance muscles, and voluntary activation (p<0.001). However, no significant differences were observed between the intervention and control groups in terms of quadriceps muscle strength in two other studies (p>0.05). Lastly, while one study showed no significant differences in muscle fiber characteristics between the two groups, it did report significant improvements in measurements related to mitochondria within muscle tissue and muscle strength in the intervention group (p<0.05). Conclusions Neuromuscular electrical stimulation can be a method used to improve muscle strength in muscle wasting of cancer patients, but it is difficult to see its effects as significant compared to other treatments.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.538-546
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on muscular strength, pain, range of motion and fear-avoidance in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) patients. The subjects of this study who received ACLR after arthroscopic injury were divided into two groups: NMES (n=14) and TENS (n=14). Each group received intervention after routine physical therapy. Each electrotherapy intervention was applied regularly for a total of 12 times, 3 times a day (30 minutes) for 4 weeks. The evaluation by intervention method included isokinetic muscle strength in flexion and extension of the knee joint, pain, range of motion of the knee joint, and fear-avoidance beliefs. The results showed significant improvement in pain, range of motion, and fear-avoidance beliefs in both groups (p<0.05). However, there was a significant improvement in isokinetic knee flexion and extension strength only in the NMES group (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two electrotherapy methods in muscle strength, pain, range of motion, and fear-avoidance beliefs. These study results suggest that NMES and TENS can be effective intervention methods for pain, range of motion, and fear-avoidance response in patients with ACLR, but to improve muscle strength NMES may be more effective.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.85-93
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• 1994

The purposes of this study were 1) to examine the effects of microcurrent electrical neuromuscular stimulation 2) to compare surface electrode with needle electrode at somatic acupuncture points on experimental pain threshold measured at the distal end of the radius 3) to determine the changes in effect over time. A total of sixty healthy adult male and female subjects were assigned randomly to one of two experimental group or to a control group. Group 1(n=20) received MENS(Microcurrent Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation) with surface electrode. Group 2(n=20) received HENS with needle electrode. Group 3(n=20) received no MENS. It measured experimental pain threshold at the wrist on pretreatment, 0 min after treatment. 15 min after treatment, 30 min after treatment in two experimental group. The results were as follows: 1. Experimental pain thresholds were higher in males than females(P<0.01). 2. Only the experimental group exhibited a significant increased in pain threshold after MENS treatment(P<0.05). 3. Surface electrode group increased significant pain threshold 0 min, 15 min after treatment, but greatly decrease 30 min after treatment. 4. Needle electrode group increased significant pain threshold 0 min, 15 min after treatment, but decrease 30 min after treatment. The results suggest that MENS applied to appropriate somatic acupuncture point can increase pain threshold. Further research is needed to assess the effects of greatly variety intensity of MENS of pain sufferes.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.117-122
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of the present randomized controlled clinical study was to evaluate the short-term outcomes of micro-current electrical neuromuscular stimulation (MENS) as an adjunct method to nonsurgical periodontal therapy. Methods: Twenty patients with moderate to severe chronic periodontitis were recruited into the study and randomly treated with either nonsurgical periodontal therapy followed by 5 MENS treatments with a micro current device or by nonsurgical periodontal therapy alone. Periodontal parameters were measured at baseline and 6 weeks following therapy, and included the plaque index, bleeding on probing, probing depth, and clinical attachment level (CAL). Results: All measured values were reduced at the time of re-evaluation. The amount of inflammation was significantly reduced in both the test (P=0.002) and control group (P=0.015). The test group demonstrated a significant CAL gain at 6 weeks following therapy, including non-molar (P=0.009) and molar teeth (P=0.028). In comparison with the control group, the test group showed statistically significant differences in the CAL on both molar (P=0.027) and non-molar teeth (P=0.031). Conclusions: In conclusion, the short-term results of the study indicate that MENS could be a suitable adjunctive method in the treatment of chronic periodontitis.