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01-12-2019 | Electromyographic | Original Article

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation improves fatigue performance of the treated and contralateral knee extensors

Authors: D. G. Behm, E. M. Colwell, G. M. J. Power, H. Ahmadi, A. S. M. Behm, A. Bishop, C. Murph, J. Pike, B. McAssey, K. Fraser, S. Kearley, M. Ryan

Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology | Issue 11-12/2019

Abstract

Purpose

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) can reduce acute and chronic pain. Unilateral fatigue can produce discomfort in the affected limb and force and activation deficits in contralateral non-exercised muscles. TENS-induced local pain analgesia effects on non-local fatigue performance are unknown. Hence, the aim of the study was to determine if TENS-induced pain suppression would augment force output during a fatiguing protocol in the treated and contralateral muscles.

Methods

Three experiments were integrated for this article. Following pre-tests, each experiment involved 20 min of TENS, sham, or a control condition on the dominant quadriceps. Then either the TENS-treated quadriceps (TENS_Treated) or the contralateral quadriceps (TENS_Contra) was tested. In a third experiment, the TENS and sham conditions involved two\; 100-s isometric maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) (30-s recovery) followed by testing of the contralateral quadriceps (TENS_Contra-Fatigue). Testing involved single knee extensors (KE) MVCs (pre- and post-test) and a post-test 30% MVC to task failure.

Results

The TENS-treated study induced greater (p = 0.03; 11.0%) time to KE (treated leg) failure versus control. The TENS_Contra-Fatigue induced significant (p = 0.04; 11.7%) and near-significant (p = 0.1; 7.1%) greater time to contralateral KE failure versus sham and control, respectively. There was a 14.5% (p = 0.02) higher fatigue index with the TENS (36.2 ± 10.1%) versus sham (31.6 ± 10.6%) conditions in the second fatigue intervention set (treated leg). There was no significant post-fatigue KE fatigue interaction with the TENS_Contra.

Conclusions

Unilateral TENS application to the dominant KE prolonged time to failure in the treated and contralateral KE suggesting a global pain modulatory response.

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Title: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation improves fatigue performance of the treated and contralateral knee extensors
Authors: D. G. Behm
E. M. Colwell
G. M. J. Power
H. Ahmadi
A. S. M. Behm
A. Bishop
C. Murph
J. Pike
B. McAssey
K. Fraser
S. Kearley
M. Ryan
Publication date: 01-12-2019
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Electromyographic
Nerve Stimulation
Fatigue
Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology / Issue 11-12/2019
Print ISSN: 1439-6319
Electronic ISSN: 1439-6327
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-019-04253-z

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Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation improves fatigue performance of the treated and contralateral knee extensors

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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