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Recovery of long‐term denervated human muscles induced by electrical stimulation
Author(s) -
Kern Helmut,
Salmons Stanley,
Mayr Winfried,
Rossini Katia,
Carraro Ugo
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.20149
Subject(s) - stimulation , denervation , medicine , functional electrical stimulation , physical medicine and rehabilitation , quadriceps muscle , anatomy , surgery
We investigated the restorative potential of intensive electrical stimulation in a patient with long‐standing quadriceps denervation. Stimulation started 18 months after injury. After 26 months, the thighs were visibly less wasted. Muscle cross‐sectional areas, measured by computerized tomography, increased from 36.0 cm 2 to 57.9 cm 2 (right) and from 36.1 cm 2 to 52.4 cm 2 (left). Knee torque had become sufficient to maintain standing without upper extremity support. Biopsies revealed evidence of both growth and regeneration of myofibers. The results suggest that electrical stimulation may offer a route to the future development of mobility aids in patients with lower motor neuron lesions. Muscle Nerve, 2004