Article

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of regional thigh composition that result
in different responses to current amplitude among individuals with spinal cord
injury (SCI) during applications of surface neuromuscular electrical stimulation
(NMES) to evoke dynamic leg extension. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTINGS:
Academic Settings. METHODS: Five males with chronic motor complete SCI completed
3 visits of NMES to determine the current amplitude required to evoke full knee
extension. The participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging of both thighs
to measure skeletal muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), thigh subcutaneous adipose
tissue (SAT) and intramuscular fat (IMF). Applicants were classified into high (n
= 3) and low-responders (n = 2) based on the determined current amplitude.
RESULTS: The low-responders required 48-59% greater current amplitude to complete
the same task as the high-responders. Low-responders had greater thigh SAT CSA
(51-56%) than the high-responders with SCI. After adjusting to whole thigh CSA,
IMF CSA was significantly greater in the low- responders; whereas skeletal muscle
CSA was lower compared to the high-responders. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest
that thigh SAT and IMF act as insulation against propagation of current during
surface NMES applications in individuals with SCI.

Langue : ANGLAIS