Effect of Patterned Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation on Vertical Jump in Collegiate Athletes

Abstract

Background:Patterned electrical neuromuscular stimulation (PENS) uses the electrical stimulation of sensory and motor nerves to achieve a skeletal muscle contraction using an electromyogram-derived functional pattern. PENS is used extensively for neuromuscular reeducation and treatment of muscle disuse atrophy.Purpose:To explore the effectiveness of PENS as applied to the quadriceps muscles on the vertical jump of an athletic population.Study Design:Experimental with control and repeated measures over time.Methods:Healthy college athletes (54 women, 75 men) were divided into 3 groups (control, n = 30; jump, n = 33; and jump with PENS, n = 63). There was no difference among groups’ height and weight. Athletes performed a baseline standing vertical jump using a vertical jump system. The control group continued its normal daily activities with no jumping tasks included. The jump groups performed 3 sets of 12 repetitions with a 2-minute rest between sets at a frequency of 3 times per week. The PENS group did the jumping with the coordination of an electrical stimulation system. Vertical jump was retested after 6 weeks of intervention and 2 weeks after cessation.Results:A 3-way repeated measures analysis of variance for time (control, jump alone, jump with PENS) revealed a significant difference (P < 0.05) for time and an interaction between time and treatment, as well as a significant difference for the PENS group from baseline to posttest and for the jump group from posttest to follow-up jump. There was no significant difference between groups for the baseline vertical jump.Conclusions:This study demonstrated that 6 weeks of vertical jump training coordinated with PENS resulted in a greater increase than jumping only or control. This pattern of stimulation with PENS in combination with jump training may positively affect jumping.

Immediate Effect of Patterned Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation on Pain and Muscle Activation in Individuals With Patellofemoral Pain

“…This protocol differs from that of PENS, which can be used during functional tasks, such as a vertical jump, to provide improved motor-neuron recruitment and increase jump height by almost 10%. 31 We found a reduction in pain during both the singlelegged squat (1.8 cm) and lateral step down (2.3 cm) in the PENS group. These values are greater than the VAS minimal clinically important difference, which is the smallest change that is a meaningful clinical improvement.…”

“…Yet it is difficult to ascertain whether the pain reduction was from the electrical stimulation alone or the therapeutic exercise that participants also performed during the 12-week protocol. 48 Despite the moderate evidence of NMES' effectiveness in improving strength in patients with PFP, some authors 31,49 have suggested that this modality has limitations such as fatigue and decreased functional application.…”

“…28 This rhythmic contraction has been theorized to replicate spinal alterations that occur during movement from the stimulation of muscle stretch receptors and motor neurons. 30 Patterned electrical neuromuscular stimulation has been used in previous studies to improve functional tasks such as vertical jump height, but the literature 31 on this new device is limited. We do not know whether using PENS would be advantageous in individuals with abnormal EMG patterns to reestablish optimal patterns.…”

The Effect of Burst-Duty-Cycle Parameters of Medium-Frequency Alternating Current on Maximum Electrically Induced Torque of the Quadriceps Femoris, Discomfort, and Tolerated Current Amplitude in Professional Soccer Players

“…N euromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is widely used in reha bilitation to assist with strength recovery, 47 muscle re education, 25 prevention of atro phy, 3 and reduction of functional limitation. 50 NMES has also been investigated for its potential role in helping to improve muscle performance in both healthy individuals and athletes.…”

A comparison of blood flow changes in tissues treated with therapeutic ultrasound and electrical stimulation

“…The most common surgical treatments in which PENS is used are total knee and total hip arthroplasty. 27 PENS is found to replicate typical firing patterns of muscles (reciprocal muscle pairs) in triphasic patterns (ballistic), biphasic patterns (reciprocal) or functional patterns. 27 Clinical evidence has shown that functional patterns of electrical stimulation, which are task specific and in conjunction with voluntary movement, improves motor learning and functional performance.…”