2022 Volume 49 Issue 5 Pages 348-353
Objective: This study aimed to compare the effects of acute Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) on arterial stiffness when applied to different parts of lower limbs.
Methods: Fifteen healthy young men were included in three trials in a randomized order. Participants rested in the supine position for 20 min with EMS applied to either the whole of both lower legs (L), both thigh muscles (T), or both calf muscles (C). The brachial-ankle Pulse Wave Velocity (baPWV) and brachial systolic/diastolic blood pressure were obtained before and after each trial.
Results: The baseline hemodynamic values were not markedly different between the three trials. Compared with baseline values, baPWV was significantly decreased after all trials (p<0.05). The baPWV after trial L was significantly slower than that after both C and T trials (p<0.05).
Conclusion: These results indicate that EMS applied to the whole lower limb improves the arterial function more markedly than EMS applied to the calf or thigh muscle alone.
