How Electrical Stimulation Could Support Muscle Recovery – Insights from Groundbreaking Rat Study
Welcome to another post in the ORIEMS FIT Research Digest series, where we bring you fascinating studies to explore how our bodies work and how new technologies, like EMS, might help. Today, we’re diving into a remarkable study that looked at how electrical stimulation (similar to what EMS devices offer) affected muscle recovery in rats. This study is interesting because it shows how electrical stimulation can potentially help muscles stay stronger after nerve injuries.
Research Article Name: Electrical Stimulation of Sciatic Nerve of Rats After Partial Denervation of Soleus Muscle
Authors: Gerald J. Herbison MD, M. Mazher Jaweed MS, John F. Ditunno Jr. MD
Published by: ScienceDirect
Funding: Sponsored by leading research institutions (specific details not listed).
Who Conducted This Study and Where?
This research was conducted by three experts – Dr. Herbison, Mr. Jaweed, and Dr. Ditunno Jr. – at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, USA. This department is well-known for its contributions to nerve and muscle research, helping to find ways to improve recovery after injuries. The study was published in a trusted journal, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in 1986.
Why This Research?
The researchers wanted to understand if electrical stimulation (the process of sending small electrical pulses) could help muscles regain their strength after a partial injury to the nerves that control them. Since nerves send signals that tell muscles to contract, an injury can weaken muscles. They used electrical pulses similar to what you might feel from an EMS device, which has been shown to help activate muscles.
Who Was Studied and How Was the Study Done?
The study used adult female Wistar rats, specifically focusing on their leg muscles. The researchers implanted small electrodes near each rat’s sciatic nerve, which helps control leg muscles. Then, they applied gentle electrical pulses, for different amounts of time each day, over six weeks. This study was very controlled – they used the same amount of stimulation and measured each muscle’s size and strength carefully.
What Did the Researchers Find?
The researchers observed some important results for muscles that had been partially affected by nerve injury:
- Increased Muscle Weight: Muscles in the rats that received two hours of electrical stimulation daily regained weight, growing larger and stronger than untreated muscles.
- Greater Muscle Tension: This refers to the strength of muscle contraction. Muscles that received electrical stimulation could contract with more force, which is a sign of regained strength.
- Fiber Size: Interestingly, the individual muscle fibers didn't necessarily increase in size, but the muscles overall became stronger and regained some bulk.
In summary, even though the nerves were damaged, adding electrical pulses to the muscles helped them regain some strength and size.
How This Study Relates to EMS Users
This study gives hope to people who use EMS devices for muscle support. Although this study was done on rats, it shows that electrical stimulation can help keep muscles active, even when they’ve been weakened by nerve problems. This could be useful for people recovering from injuries or looking to maintain muscle health with EMS.
Research Article Name: Electrical Stimulation of Sciatic Nerve of Rats After Partial Denervation of Soleus Muscle
Link To Study:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0003999386901048
https://www.archives-pmr.org/article/0003-9993(86)90104-8/abstract
Why is This Source Trustworthy?
The Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is a respected journal known for publishing accurate, peer-reviewed studies. Peer-reviewed means that experts checked the study to make sure it was done well and is reliable.
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