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Effects of endurance and strength‐directed electrical stimulation training on the performance and histological properties of paralyzed human muscle: A pilot study
Author(s) -
Duffell Lynsey D.,
Rowlerson Anthea M.,
Donaldson Nick De N.,
Harridge Stephen D.R.,
Newham Di J.
Publication year - 2010
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.21746
Subject(s) - medicine , cycling , muscle biopsy , strength training , spinal cord injury , stimulation , physical medicine and rehabilitation , endurance training , physical therapy , functional electrical stimulation , muscle fibre , biopsy , spinal cord , skeletal muscle , archaeology , psychiatry , history
Electrical stimulation (ES) improves muscle properties after spinal cord injury (SCI), but cycling power output (PO) remains low. We investigated the effect of endurance and strength ES training on these parameters. Assessments of quadriceps strength and fatigue resistance, cycling PO, and muscle biopsies were made in four well‐trained SCI subjects (three cyclists and one rower) before and after additional weight training in the cyclists and once in the rower. Weight training improved muscle strength, but cycling PO was low in all subjects. There was no effect of training type on biopsy data. Biopsies showed non‐specific signs of pathology, predominance of type IIa fibers, and uniform metabolic activity. Oxidative activity was low, as were capillary:fiber ratios in the cyclists. Cycling PO is limited by factors other than muscle strength. Future ES training studies should attempt to improve muscle oxidative capacity to optimize the potential benefits of ES exercise. Muscle Nerve 42: 756–763, 2010