Uncovering Muscular Transformations After FES-Assisted Cycling

Published on May 16, 2022

In a recent study, researchers used Electrical Impedance Myography (EIM) to investigate the immediate effects of functional electrical stimulation (FES)-assisted cycling on the muscles of chronic stroke survivors. EIM measurements were taken before and after a 40-minute cycling session. The results showed significant increases in reactance and phase angle values in the tibialis anterior and medial head of gastrocnemius muscles immediately after training. These changes were correlated with improvements in clinical scales such as the Fugl-Meyer Assessment and the 6-minute walking test. The findings suggest that FES-assisted cycling may lead to muscle hypertrophy or increases in muscle fiber size in stroke survivors. This study provides valuable insights into the mechanisms behind electrical stimulation-assisted exercise for enhancing muscle function in stroke rehabilitation. To learn more about this research, check out the full article!

BackgroundElectrical impedance myography (EIM) has been applied to assess muscle health conditions in neuromuscular disorders. This study aimed to detect immediate muscle electrical impedance property alterations in lower extremity of chronic stroke survivors immediately after functional electrical stimulation (FES)-assisted cycling training.MethodsFourteen chronic stroke survivors were recruited for the current study. EIM measurements were conducted before and immediately after 40-min FES-assisted cycling training for each subject. Four interested muscle groups [rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), tibialis anterior (TA), and the medial head of gastrocnemius (MG)] were selected. Correlation analysis was performed to reveal a significant correlation between changes in EIM parameters and clinical scales [Fugl–Meyer Assessment of the lower extremity (FMA-LE); 6-min walking test (6MWT)].ResultsImmediately after training, reactance (X) and phase angle (θ) values significantly increased on the TA and MG muscles. Significant correlation was observed between X value and FMA-LE scores (r = 0.649, p = 0.012) at MG as well as X and FMA scores of the ankle joint (r = 0.612, p = 0.02). Resistance (R) and θ were significantly correlated with 6MWT score (R-6MWT: r = 0.651, p = 0.012; θ-6MWT: r = 0.621, p = 0.018).ConclusionThis brief report demonstrated that EIM can reveal the intrinsic property alteration in the paretic muscle of chronic stroke survivors immediately after FES-assisted cycling training. These alterations might be related to muscle hypertrophy (i.e., increases in muscle fiber size). This brief report might aid the understanding of the mechanism of electrical stimulation-assisted exercise in improving muscle function of stroke survivors.

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