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Estimation of the distribution of intramuscular current during electrical stimulation of the quadriceps muscle

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Abstract

Electrical stimulation is commonly used for strengthening muscle but little evidence exists as to the optimal electrode size, waveform, or frequency to apply. Three male and three female subjects (22–40 years old) were examined during electrical stimulation of the quadriceps muscle. Two self adhesive electrode sizes were examined, 2 cm × 2 cm and 2 cm × 4 cm. Electrical stimulation was applied with square and sine waveforms, currents of 5, 10 and 15 mA, and pulse widths of 100–500 μs above the quadriceps muscle. Frequencies of stimulation were 20, 30, and 50 Hz. Current on the skin above the quadriceps muscle was measured with surface electrodes at five positions and at three positions with needle electrodes in the same muscle. Altering pulse width in the range of 100–500 μs, the frequency over a range of 20–50 Hz, or current from 5 to 15 mA had no effect on current dispersion either in the skin or within muscle. In contrast, the distance separating the electrodes caused large changes in current dispersion on the skin or into muscle. The most significant finding in the present investigation was that, while on the surface of the skin current dispersion was not different between sine and square wave stimulation, significantly more current was transferred deep in the muscle with sine versus square wave stimulation. The use of sine wave stimulation with electrode separation distances of less then 15 cm is recommended for electrical stimulation with a sine wave to achieve deep muscle stimulation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Therapy, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA

    Jerrold Petrofsky, Michelle Prowse & Hye Jin Suh

  2. Department of Physical Therapy, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA, USA

    Melanie Bain, Elaine Ebilane, Jennifer Batt, Viviana Hernandez, Armia Abdo, Tien-ning Yang, Enrique Mendoza, Kelly Collins & Michael Laymon

  3. School of Public Health and Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA

    Daryl Lawson

Authors
  1. Jerrold Petrofsky
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  2. Michelle Prowse
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  3. Melanie Bain
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  4. Elaine Ebilane
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  5. Hye Jin Suh
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  6. Jennifer Batt
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  7. Daryl Lawson
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  8. Viviana Hernandez
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  9. Armia Abdo
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  10. Tien-ning Yang
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  11. Enrique Mendoza
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  12. Kelly Collins
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  13. Michael Laymon
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Correspondence to Jerrold Petrofsky.

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Petrofsky, J., Prowse, M., Bain, M. et al. Estimation of the distribution of intramuscular current during electrical stimulation of the quadriceps muscle. Eur J Appl Physiol 103, 265–273 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-008-0700-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-008-0700-3

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