Electrical Stimulation of the Muscle Pumps of the Leg

Imperial College London

Status: Completed

Conditions: Haemodynamic Physiology

Treatments: Device: Electrical stimulation (Digitimer)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02532556

15IC2528

Details and patient eligibility

About

The most efficient way of electrically stimulating the calf muscles has not been identified. The investigators aim to investigate this using a matrix of electrical parameters, and measuring the outcome with vascular ultrasound of the leg.

Full description

Blood is aided on its journey to the heart by the action of the muscles of the legs. Muscle contraction squeezes the deep veins of the leg and pushes blood upwards, back towards the heart. In immobilised patients, or those with blood vessel problems, the pumping process can be helped by machines that either squeeze or shock the muscles of the calf (e.g. intermittent pneumatic compression, electrical stimulating devices). Many are licensed for medical use, and some are common place in hospitals and outpatient departments.

Enrollment: 12 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 18 years or older
• Current good health

Exclusion criteria

• History of cardiovascular disease
• Ankle Brachial Pressure Index <0.9
• Venous reflux>0.5s
• Pregnancy

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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12 participants in 7 patient groups

1

Experimental group

Description:

Stimulation of muscle in this order: vastus medials, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, medial head gastrocnemius, lateral head gastrocnemius

Treatment:

Device: Electrical stimulation (Digitimer)

2

Experimental group

Description:

Stimulation of muscle in this order: rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, medial head gastrocnemius, lateral head gastrocnemius, vastus medials

Treatment:

Device: Electrical stimulation (Digitimer)

3

Experimental group

Description:

Stimulation of muscle in this order: vastus lateralis, tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, medial head gastrocnemius, lateral head gastrocnemius, vastus medials, rectus femoris

Treatment:

Device: Electrical stimulation (Digitimer)

4

Experimental group

Description:

Stimulation of muscle in this order: tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, and the medial head gastrocnemius, lateral head gastrocnemius, vastus medials, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis

Treatment:

Device: Electrical stimulation (Digitimer)

5

Experimental group

Description:

Stimulation of muscle in this order: peroneus longus, medial head gastrocnemius, lateral head gastrocnemius, vastus medials, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, tibialis anterior

Treatment:

Device: Electrical stimulation (Digitimer)

6

Experimental group

Description:

Stimulation of muscle in this order: medial head gastrocnemius, lateral head gastrocnemius, vastus medials, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, tibialis anterior, peroneus longus

Treatment:

Device: Electrical stimulation (Digitimer)

7

Experimental group

Description:

Stimulation of muscle in this order: lateral head gastrocnemius, vastus medials, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, medial head gastrocnemius,

Treatment:

Device: Electrical stimulation (Digitimer)