Neuromuscular electrical stimulation has been studied to be a method of prophylaxis for deep venous
thrombosis by activating the calf muscle pump. However, there is little evidence of the effects of different stimulating
parameters on hemodynamics and comfort levels. The objective of this paper is to compare the effects
of different stimulating parameters (current amplitude, pulse-width) on hemodynamic alterations of the popliteal
vein and the comfort levels in a group of fourteen healthy subjects. Doppler ultrasound detection of peak venous
velocity and blood volume were taken from baseline, twelve sequential electrical stimulations and foot dorsiflexion
for each subject. A visual analogue scale was used to assess the subjects’ pain perception of neuromuscular electrical
stimulation. The results showed that peak venous velocity and blood volume augmented as current amplitude
and pulse-width increased while pain level also increased. A compromise was reached that parameters consisting
of an amplitude of 10mA and a pulse-width of 500 μs would obtain a high-peak venous velocity and blood flow
volume with a relatively comfortable perception. In addition, parameters consisting of an amplitude of 20mA and
a pulse-width of 300 μs were also shown to be a promising choice. However, further studies need to be done to
validate and enrich these findings.
YANG Shun-gang1 (杨顺刚), Gong Xia2 (龚霞), WEI Sheng-kai1 (魏盛凯), GU Xin-feng1 (顾鑫锋), SHI Jeremy3 (施力玮), JIANG Chuan4 (江川), WAN Da-qian4 (万大千), WANG Jin-wu4* (王金武), DAI Ke-rong4* (戴尅戎), YAN Meng-ning4 (严孟宁
. A Hemodynamic Study of the Effect of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on Enhancing Popliteal Venous Flow[J]. Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University(Science), 2014
, 19(6)
: 706
-711
.
DOI: 10.1007/s12204-014-1570-y
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