Immediate effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on the abductor hallucis muscle: A randomized controlled trial. (1st October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shimoura, Kanako; Nishida, Yuichi; Abiko, Sachiko; Suzuki, Yusuke; Zeidan, Hala; Kajiwara, Yu; Harada, Keiko; Tatsumi, Masataka; Nakai, Kengo; Bito, Tsubasa; Yoshimi, Soyoka; Kawabe, Rika; Yokota, Junpei; Aoyama, Tomoki
• Is Part Of: Electromagnetic biology and medicine. Volume 39:Number 4(2020)
• Page Start: 257
• Page End: 261
• Publication Date: 2020-10-01
• Subjects: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation -- hallux valgus -- abductor hallucis muscle -- electromyogram; Electrophysiology -- Periodicals; Electromagnetic Fields -- Periodicals; Electrophysiology -- Periodicals; Radiation, Nonionizing -- Periodicals; 574
• DOI: 10.1080/15368378.2020.1793166
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1536-8378

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Hallux valgus (HV) is a foot deformity with deviation of the greater toe and the first metatarsal. There is little evidence on training the abductor hallucis muscle (AbdH) to treat HV because of the difficulty in implementing the necessary interventions. Although neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has been used to induce voluntary exercise, there is currently no study on NMES for AbdH. We aimed to verify the immediate effect of NMES on the AbdH muscle function. For the NMES group (n = 15), electrical stimulation was applied for 20 min. In the sham group (n = 15), the stimulating device was set but not turned on. Electromyogram, HV angle (HVA) at rest and during abduction of the big toe, and strength of the AbdH were evaluated. Analysis of covariance was used to investigate differences between groups using the baseline as the covariate. NMES significantly improved the maximal voluntary isometric contractions (%MVIC), HVA at exercise, and muscle strength (%MVIC: p = .00, HVA exercise: p = .00, AbdH strength: p = .00). HVA at rest showed no change ( p = .12). Application of NMES on the AbdH muscle immediately improved its activity output, muscle strength, and HVA during exercise.