• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.28-36
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• 2007

The aim of this study was to identify the effect of suspension unloading (SU) and electrical stimulation upon the development of neonatal muscular system. For this study, the neonatal rats were randomly divided into three groups: a control group, an experimental group I, and an experimental group II. The SU for experimental group I and II was applied from postnatal day (PD) 5 to PD 30. The electrical stimulation for soleus muscle of experimental group IIwas applied from PD 16 to PD 30 using neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), which gave isometric contraction with 10 pps for 30 minutes twice a day. In order to observe the effect of SU and ES, this study observed myocyte enhancer factor 2C (MEF2C) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) immunoreactivity in the soleus muscles at PD 15 and PD 30. In addition, the motor behavior test was performed through footprint analysis at PD 30. The following is the result. At PD 15, the soleus muscles of experimental group Iand II had significantly lower MEF2C, VEGF immunoreactivity than the control group. It proved that microgravity conditions restricted the development of the skeletal muscle cells at PD 15. At PD 30, soleus muscles of the control group and experimental group II had significantly higher MEF2C, VEGF, immunoreactivity than experimental group I. It proved that the NMES facilitated the development of the skeletal muscle cells. At PD 30, it showed that SU caused the decrease in stride length of parameter of gait analysis and an increase in toe-out angle, and that the NMES decreased these variations. These results suggest that weight bearing during neonatal developmental period is essential for muscular development. They also reveal that NMES can encourage the development of muscular systems by fully supplementing the effect of weight bearing, which is an essential factor in the neonatal developmental process.

• 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 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 the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.125-135
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of low frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) training on abdominal obesity in middle-aged women through electromyography and ultrasound. METHODS: Twenty-two middle aged women with abdominal obesity participated in the study. A low-frequency NMES device was used on the abdomen and waist of each subject for 20 minutes each (a total of 40 minutes) three times a week for eight weeks. The waist-hip ratio (WHR), weight and BMI (Body Mass Index) were measured. Electromyography (EMG) and ultrasound measurements were performed three times in total (pre-intervention, four weeks into the intervention, and eight weeks post-intervention) to examine the effects of low-frequency NMES on the abdominal muscle activity, muscle thickness, and subcutaneous fat. RESULTS: The results indicated a difference in the WHR and waist circumference before and after intervention (p<.05). The external oblique muscle (EO) showed a significant increase in muscle activity during all measurements taken post-intervention (p<.05). The abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness also showed a significant decrease between each measurement (p<.05). The test results showed that the abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness values taken eight weeks post-intervention were significantly lower than those taken pre-intervention and four weeks into the intervention (p<.05). CONCLUSION: These findings show that low-frequency NMES device training can be applied to middle-aged women with abdominal obesity to improve their body shape and exercise performance.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.269-273
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• 2022

Background: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is used for muscle strengthening. While voluntary muscle contraction follows Henneman et al.'s size principle, the NMES-induced muscle training disrespects the neurophysiology, which may lead to unwanted changes (i.e., declined balance ability). Objects: We examined how the balance was affected by abdominal muscle training with the NMES. Methods: Fifteen young adults (10 males and 5 females) aged between 21 and 30 received abdominal muscle strengthening with NMES for 23 minutes. Before and after the training, participants' balance was measured through one leg standing on a force plate with eyes open or closed. Outcome variables included mean distance (MDIST), root mean square distance (RDIST), total excursion (TOTEX), mean velocity (MVELO), and 95% confidence circle area (AREA) of center of pressure data. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used to test if these outcome variables were associated with time (pre and post) and vision. Results: All outcome variables were not associated with time (p > 0.05). However, all outcome variables were associated with vision (p = 0.0001), and MVELO and TOTEX were 52.4% (45.5 mm/s versus 95.6 mm/s) and 52.4% (364.1 mm versus 764.5 mm) smaller, respectively, in eyes open than eyes closed (F = 55.8, p = 0.0005; F = 55.8, p = 0.0005). Furthermore, there was no interaction between time and vision (F = 0.024, p = 0.877). Conclusion: Despite the different neurophysiology of muscle contraction, abdominal muscle strengthening with NMES did not affect balance.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation(NMES) on the alteration of spinal motor neuron excitability. In this article, I would like to experiment on a standard capacity of clinical electrophysiology, a difference in applying methods and a clinical efficiency of NMES by Nerve conduction velocity. We used normal eight subjects without neuromuscular disease and all subjects participated 3 session, which at least 1 week between session. Participants classified according to each group in Antagonist, Agonist, Antagonist-Agonist by the NMES. The test was measured continuously pre test, post-test, post 20 minute test by EMG including H reflex, F wave, motor nerve conduction velocity(MNCV). The following results were obtained; 1. H-reflex latencies and H/M intervals were significantly increased in agonist and antagonist-agonist group(p<.01). 2. H-reflex amplitudes and H/M ratios were significantly decreased in agonist and antagonist-agonist group(p<.01). In agonist group, H-reflex amplitudes and H/M ratios were more significantly decreased than antagonist group. 3. F-wave latencies were significantly increased in agonist and antagonist-agonist group(p<.01). F/M intervals were significantly increased in antagonist-agonist group(p<.01). F wave conduction velocities were significantly increased in agonist and antagonist-agonist group(p<.01) but F/M ratios were not significant. 4. MNCV were significantly decreased in agonist(p<.01). These results lead us to the conclusion that agonist and Antagonist-agonist was significantly decreased excitability of spinal motor neuron. Conversely, Antagonist does not decreased. Therefore, A further direction of this study will be to provide more evidence that NMES have an effect on excitability of spinal motor neurons in UMN syndrome.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.33-42
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of rehabilitation exercise and neuromuscular electrical stimulation on a visual analysis scale and functional visual analysis scale regarding functional capacity. A total of 7 consecutive patients with the complaint of patellofemoral pain syndrome who received this diagnosis from a sports medicine physician were recruited to assess the effect of rehabilitation exercise and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Functional Visual Analog Scale (FVAS), functional capacity patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome. The exercise rehabilitation consisted of a complex training program requiring five treatments a week for eight weeks. The training program consisted of four phases, and each lasted for two weeks. Statistical analyses were one-way ANOVA with repeated measures. The results were as follows: (1) There were significant differences in the VAS and FVAS during 8-weeks of rehabilitation exercise and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (p<.01). (2) There were no significant differences in the functional capacity during 8-weeks of rehabilitation exercise and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (p<.05). In conclusion, at the end of the eight weeks of this rehabilitation program and neuromuscular electrical stimulation, a significant reduction was found in VAS and FVAS, but there was no significant difference in functional capacity at the end of the treatment.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.329-337
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the functional changes of the vastus medialis while the neuromuscular electrical stimulation(NMES) was performed in elderly women with knee osteoarthritis. The subjects of this study were 30 women who were diagnosed degenerative arthritis, 15 in the experimental group and 15 in the control group. The experimental group performed conventional physical therapy and neuromuscular electrical stimulation, and the control group received only conventional physical therapy, five times per week for four weeks. Outcome measures were assessed before and after 4weeks using the VAS(pain), quadriceps femoris strength, thigh circumference, and Q-angle. The data of the quadriceps femoris strength and thigh circumference were significantly increased in experimental group(p<0.05). The data the pain was significantly decreased in both the two groups(p<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in quadriceps femoris strength and thigh circumference between the two groups(p<0.05). As the result, the application of neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the vastus medialis could be more effective for decrease pain and improving muscle function in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.159-168
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• 2023

Purpose : This study aimed to investigate how neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) affects the balance ability of patients who have undergone total knee arthroplasty owing to osteoarthritis. Methods : Thirty patients who had undergone total knee arthroplasty were randomized to an experimental group (n=15) and a control group (n=15). The experimental group received conventional physical therapy for 50 minutes and NMES treatment for 30 minutes, whereas the control group received conventional physical therapy for 50 minutes and active range of motion (AROM) exercises for 30 minutes. Within-group and between-group changes in static and dynamic balance ability before and after the 4-week intervention were analyzed. Results : In the within-group comparison, sway velocity in the center of gravity and total distance were significantly improved in both the experimental and control groups (p<.05), with no significant differences between the groups (p>.05). In the within-group comparison, both the experimental and control groups showed significant improvement in the functional reach test and movement velosity (p<.05). In the between-group comparison, the experimental group showed a significantly better improvement than the control group in the functional reach test (p<.05), but there was no significant difference in the movement velosity test (p>.05). Conclusion : In this study, NMES improved the static and dynamic balance in patients who had undergone total knee arthroplasty. Compared with AROM exercises, there was a greater effect on dynamic balance partially; however, the overall effect was similar. Therefore, NMES may be one option among various interventions to improve the balance ability in patients who have undergone total knee arthroplasty. In particular, this method may be effective when it is difficult to apply balance training for patients with total knee arthroplasty in a clinical setting.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.69-83
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• 2022

Objective : This study aimed to confirm the possibility of the clinical application of oral motor facilitation technique (OMFT) protocol and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in patients with Wallenberg syndrome. Methods : One patient with Wallenberg syndrome was treated with OMFT and NMES applied 40 times each, 5 days a week, twice a day for 4 weeks. The Comprehensive Oral-Facial Function Scale (COFFS), Korean-Mann Swallowing Ability Assessment (K-MASA), and Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) were used to compare the changes before and after the intervention. Data analysis was used to compare the score changes before and after the intervention. Results : Orofacial function and swallowing ability improved after the intervention in the individual who participated in this study. Among oral motor functions, relatively greater functional improvement was observed in tongue movement compared to other functions, which was evaluated to the extent that pharyngeal swallowing was possible. Conclusions : Early swallowing rehabilitation using systematic OMFT and NMES of exercise intensity confirmed the possibility of improving oral motor function and dysphagia. In the future, complementary studies on the effects of interventions applying the OMFT and NMES will be needed.