Key result
NMES+ drives greater spinal and cortical excitation versus passive stimulation and voluntary exercise.
Why the study?
The acute effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation superimposed on voluntary contractions on cortical activation and reflex response were not well characterized.
Does neuromuscular electrical stimulation superimposed on voluntary contractions (NMES+) improve cortical activation and reflex response compared to passive stimulation or voluntary exercise alone?
Does neuromuscular electrical stimulation superimposed on voluntary contractions (NMES+) improve cortical activation and reflex response compared to passive stimulation or voluntary exercise alone?
NMES+ provides greater excitatory effects at spinal and cortical levels than passive stimulation or voluntary exercise alone, suggesting potential utility in neurorehabilitation.
May inform combined stimulation protocols in rehabilitation; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change practice.
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation superimposed on voluntary contractions (NMES+) is effective to improve motor performance in several populations. Here, we investigated the changes in cortical activation and reflex response following three acute conditions, including NMES+. Our results show that NMES+ has a greater excitatory effect at both spinal and cortical levels compared with passive stimulation and voluntary exercise alone. These results open up original perspectives for the implementation of NMES+ in neurorehabilitation and training environments.
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Borzuola et al. (2023) studied this question. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation superimposed on voluntary contractions (NMES+) vs. Passive stimulation and voluntary exercise alone was evaluated on Changes in cortical activation and reflex response. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation superimposed on voluntary contractions (NMES+) had a greater excitatory effect at spinal and cortical levels compared with passive stimulation and voluntary exercise.
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