2020 Volume 35 Issue 3 Pages 347-354
[Purpose] The feasibility of continuously exercising at home using neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) for home-visit rehabilitation service users was examined, including the physical effects of this method. [Participants and Methods] NMES was applied to both quadriceps femoris muscles of 9 home-visit rehabilitation service users for 8 weeks. The rate of continuously exercising, knee extensor torque produced during maximal voluntary contraction (knee extensor maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) torque), anterior femoral muscle thickness, lower limb muscle mass, and gait velocity were measured. [Results] The rate of continuously exercising was 85.3 ± 16.4%. After the 8-week intervention, significant improvements were only observed in the knee extensor MVC torque on the affected side (from 0.9 ± 0.4 to 1.1 ± 0.5 Nm/kg, p<0.05). [Conclusion] It may be feasible for service users to continuously exercise at home using NMES, and such exercise may improve the knee extensor MVC torque on the affected side, although further studies are required for its generalization.
