Article

OBJECTIVE: To determine changes occurring in the cross-sectional area,
electromyography (EMG) activity, and the strength of the biceps brachii after an
8-week period of bilateral training with surface muscle electrical stimulation in
patients with hemophilic arthropathy. DESIGN: Controlled trial.
SETTING: Coagulopathy unit, university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Volunteer subjects (N=30)
participated in this study: 15 with severe hemophilia A (hemophilic group) and 15
nonhemophilic control subjects (control group). INTERVENTIONS: The hemophilic
group followed a surface electrical stimulation program (frequency 45 Hz, impulse
200 micros, 10s on/10s off) over an 8-week period on the biceps brachii of both
arms. The control group did no training of any kind. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The
cross-sectional area, maximum voluntary isometric contraction, and EMG activity
of the biceps brachii in both arms were determined before and after the 8-week-long task.
RESULTS: The results of the hemophilic group showed significant
increases in the diameter (15.8%, P<.001), isometric force (4.6%, P<.05), and EMG
activity (37.6%, P<.05) of the biceps brachii muscles in both arms. No
significant changes were observed for the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Our
findings confirm the efficacy of muscle electrical stimulation in causing muscles
to hypertrophy in patients with hemophilia, thereby improving their muscular
strength. In addition, these results may also be clinically applicable in the
rehabilitation of patients who have similar deficiencies in the locomotor system.

Langue : ANGLAIS