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Electrode position markedly affects knee torque in tetanic, stimulated contractions

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European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate how much the distance between stimulation electrodes affects the knee extension torque in tetanic, electrically elicited contractions.

Methods

Current pulses of progressively larger amplitude, from 0 mA to maximally tolerated intensities, were delivered at 20 pps to the vastus medialis, rectus femoris and vastus lateralis muscles of ten, healthy male subjects. Four inter-electrode distances were tested: 32.5 % (L1), 45.0 % (L2), 57.5 % (L3) and 70 % (L4) of the distance between the patella apex and the anterior superior iliac spine. The maximal knee extension torque and the current leading to the maximal torque were measured and compared between electrode configurations.

Results

The maximal current tolerated by each participant ranged from 60 to 100 mA and did not depend on the inter-electrode distance. The maximal knee extension torque elicited did not differ between L3 and L4 (P = 0.15) but, for both conditions, knee torque was significantly greater than for L1 and L2 (P < 0.024). On average, the extension torque elicited for L3 and L4 was two to three times greater than that obtained for L1 and L2. The current leading to maximal torque was not as sensitive to inter-electrode distance. Except for L1 current intensity did not change with electrode configuration (P > 0.16).

Conclusions

Key results presented here revealed that for a given stimulation intensity, knee extension torque increased dramatically with the distance between electrodes. The distance between electrodes seems therefore to critically affect knee torque, with potential implication for optimising exercise protocols based on electrical stimulation.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

d p-asis :

Line defining the distance between the patella apex and the anterior superior iliac spine

ETpeak :

Highest extension torque

FES:

Functional electrical stimulation

I max :

Highest current intensity

RF:

Rectus femoris

VL:

Vastus lateralis

VM:

Vastus medialis

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Politecnico di Torino (student team Eng4Dis) and co-funded by Compagnia di San Paolo and Fondazione C.R.T.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Engineering of the Neuromuscular System (LISiN), Dipartimento di Elettronica e Telecomunicazioni, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy

    Taian M. Vieira, Paolo Potenza & Alberto Botter

  2. Departamento de Arte Corporal, Escola de Educação Física e Desportos, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

    Taian M. Vieira

  3. Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Aerospaziale, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy

    Laura Gastaldi

Authors
  1. Taian M. Vieira
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  2. Paolo Potenza
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  3. Laura Gastaldi
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  4. Alberto Botter
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alberto Botter.

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Funding

Politecnico di Torino (student team Eng4Dis), Compagnia di San Paolo and Fondazione C.R.T.

Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Communicated by Nicolas Place.

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Vieira, T.M., Potenza, P., Gastaldi, L. et al. Electrode position markedly affects knee torque in tetanic, stimulated contractions. Eur J Appl Physiol 116, 335–342 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3289-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3289-3

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