Effect of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Combined With Blood Flow Restriction on Muscular and Cardiovascular Function

St. Mary's University, Twickenham

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Muscle Atrophy; Muscle Weakness

Treatments: Device: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03662555

Stmarys

Details and patient eligibility

About

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has recently been combined with blood flow restriction (BFR) in controlled trials and has shown increased muscular strength and size compared with NMES and BFR on their own. However, none have used BFR pressures previously recommended. The first study of my Ph.D. found 40% and 80% BFR pressures to induce acute fatigue and muscle swelling. However, 80% caused higher ratings of pain and perceived exertion. The present study will determine whether NMES combined with either 40% or 80% BFR causes greater structural muscular adaptations and is perceptually easier after 6 weeks of training.

Full description

Laboratory testing will take place on 28 separate occasions, 2 familiarisation, 8 testing and 18 intervention sessions. The first session (FAM 1) will serve as a familiarisation trial to the NMES protocol, BFR stimulus and strength testing. It will be conducted 10-14 days prior to the intervention period. The second session (FAM 2) will serve as a second familiarisation trial to the NMES protocol, BFR stimulus and strength testing. This session will take place 7 days prior to the beginning of the intervention period and will serve as a standardised control period prior to the main testing. The third session (PRE) will take place 1 day prior the start of the intervention period and all future sessions will consist of strength, muscle and cardiovascular function outcome measures. The fourth session (MID) will take place the morning following 3 weeks of training. The fifth session (POST1) will take place 48 hours following 6 weeks of training. There will also be post testing sessions after three days (POST2), one week (POST3) and two weeks post intervention (POST4) to assess detraining. Participants will be provided with protein supplementation after every training session. All strength, muscle and hemodynamic measurements will be conducted at St Marys University by Paul Head. Supplements should be avoided for 72 hours prior to experimental measures and throughout the intervention period. All repeated measures will be performed at a similar time of day (± 1 h).

Enrollment: 50 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 45 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Healthy adults aged between 18 and 45 years old

Exclusion criteria

• History of lower extremity surgery, traumatic injuries to the ankle, knee, hip, pelvis and lower back
• Current musculoskeletal condition
• High blood pressure
• Cardiovascular pathology

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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50 participants in 3 patient groups

NMES and BFR (80%)

Experimental group

Description:

Group 1, participants will undergo NMES and BFR (80% pressure) applied to the quadriceps for 25 min.

Treatment:

Device: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation

NMES and BFR (40%)

Experimental group

Description:

Group 2, participants will undergo NMES and BFR (40% pressure) applied to the quadriceps for 25 min.

Treatment:

Device: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation

NMES alone

Active Comparator group

Description:

Group 3, participants will undergo NMES applied to the quadriceps for 25 min.

Treatment:

Device: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation