Abstract
Strength of the trunk muscles is a key of motor control but it declines easily with the process of aging and/or disuse. In the present study we applied electrical stimulation (ES) to the abdominal muscles of the inactive elderly and investigated its local and general effects. We also intended to develop a new care preventive action for the inactive elderly. Eleven elderly people being admitted to an institute for nursing care participated to this study. Due to chronic disuse they could not walk independently during 3 months before start of ES despite intervention with common physical therapy. ES was performed twice a day during 2 months adding to physical therapy. Surface electrodes were put on the area of the bilateral abdominal oblique muscles. Before ES and 1month and 2 months after ES, we measured grip strength, maximum walking speed, time of getting up, flexibility of the trunk, standing balance, score of Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and cross sectional area of the abdominal muscles examined by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). After ES, walking speed, getting up time and the score of FIM improved significantly. Though MRI was examined in only one case remarkable increase of muscle volume was observed. As a result of ES, motor performance like walking and getting up improved. Furthermore, the level of ADL was elevated after ES because the score of FIM had been stable during 3 months before ES. The relationship between the change of abdominal soft tissue composition and the improvement of motor performance is unclear but the local change induced by ES may be one of triggers to improve general motor function.
