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Self directed home based electrical muscle stimulation training improves exercise tolerance and strength in healthy elderly
Date Issued
2013-07-07
Date Available
2015-04-13T11:13:34Z
Abstract
Advancing age is associated with a gradual decline in muscle strength, exercise tolerance and subsequent capacity for activities of daily living. It is important that we develop effective strategies to halt this process of gradual decline in order to enhance functional ability and capacity for independent living. To achieve this, we must overcome the challenge of sustaining ongoing engagement in physical exercise programmes in the sedentary elderly population, particularly those who experience barriers to exercise participation. Recent developments in electrical muscle stimulation technology could provide a potential solution. In this pilot case-control study we investigated the effects of a self-directed home based programme of electrical muscle stimulation training on muscle strength and exercise tolerance in a group of 16 healthy elderly volunteers (10f, 6m). Study participants completed 30 separate 1-hour electrical muscle stimulation sessions at home over a 6-week period. We observed significant improvements in quadriceps muscle strength and 6-minute walk distance, suggesting that this form of electrical muscle stimulation training has promise as an exercise modality in the elderly population.
Sponsorship
Enterprise Ireland
Science Foundation Ireland
Type of Material
Conference Publication
Publisher
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Copyright (Published Version)
2013 IEEE
Language
English
Status of Item
Peer reviewed
Part of
Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC), 2013 35th Annual International Conference of the IEEE
Conference Details
35th Annual International Conference of the IEEE, Osaka, Japan, 3-7 July 2013
This item is made available under a Creative Commons License
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