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The effects of knee joint angle on neuromuscular activity during electrostimulation in healthy older adults.

Gavin, J., Cooper, M. and Wainwright, T. W., 2018. The effects of knee joint angle on neuromuscular activity during electrostimulation in healthy older adults. Journal of Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Engineering, 5, 1-10.

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DOI: 10.1177/2055668318779506

Abstract

Introduction Electrostimulation devices stimulate the common peroneal nerve, producing a calf muscle-pump action to promote venous circulation. Whether knee joint angle influences calf neuromuscular activity remains unclear. Our aim was to determine the effects of knee joint angle on lower limb neuromuscular activity during electrostimulation. Methods Fifteen healthy, older adults underwent 60 min of electrostimulation, with the knee joint at three different angles (0°, 45° or 90° flexion; random order; 20 min each). Outcome variables included electromyography of the peroneus longus, tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius medialis and lateralis and discomfort. Results Knee angle did not influence tibialis anterior and peroneus longus neuromuscular activity during electrostimulation. Neuromuscular activity was greater in the gastrocnemius medialis (p = 0.002) and lateralis (p = 0.002) at 90°, than 0° knee angle. Electrostimulation intensity was positively related to neuromuscular activity for each muscle, with a knee angle effect for the gastrocnemius medialis (p = 0.05). Conclusion Results suggest that during electrostimulation, knee joint angle influenced gastrocnemii neuromuscular activity; increased gastrocnemius medialis activity across all intensities (at 90°), when compared to 0° and 45° flexion; and did not influence peroneus longus and tibialis anterior activity. Greater electrostimulation-evoked gastrocnemii activity has implications for producing a more forceful calf muscle-pump action, potentially further improving venous flow.

Item Type:Article
ISSN:2055-6683
Uncontrolled Keywords:Electrical stimulation ; Knee joint ; Peroneal nerve ; Electromyography ; Isometric contraction ; Gastrocnemius
Group:Bournemouth University Business School
ID Code:31225
Deposited By: Symplectic RT2
Deposited On:11 Sep 2018 14:53
Last Modified:14 Mar 2022 14:12

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