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Application of Electrical Modalities on Muscle Stimulation

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Non-Pharmacological Management of Osteoporosis

Abstract

Physical activity and especially physical exercise are considered as cornerstones of musculoskeletal health [1, 2]. Recent studies [3, 4], however, indicate that a training frequency of at least 2 h/week/year must be generated and maintained in order to achieve relevant positive results for maintaining or increasing muscle or bone mass in older adults. This need for high training frequency, however, collides with the (low) sports participation rates of older adults [5]. Although the sports participation level has slightly increased [6] for the elderly population, surveys demonstrated that less than a quarter of women 70 years and older, which may be the most prominent risk group for sarcopenia and osteoporosis, regularly “exercise” [5]. Moreover, in a lifelong “sport-abstinent” cohort of subjects, the willingness and insight to start regular and intense exercise programs are rather limited. However, from a socioeconomic point of view, it is important that “exercise programs” dedicated to this target group be developed. “Alternative” training technologies, such as whole-body vibration (WBV) or even more promisingly whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS), which are able to amplify light exercise stimuli to an effective degree [7], may be a time-effective, customizable, and joint-friendly option, especially for older, less sport-affine, and/or vulnerable subjects.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    1 Hz vs. 20 Hz vs. 50 Hz vs. 100 Hz vs. disuse control (“hindlimb suspension”) vs. aged matched control.

  2. 2.

    The effect of 100 Hz was also significant but slightly lower…

  3. 3.

    That is, one instructor supervised two to three participants.

  4. 4.

    …which is however the majority of the older population [6].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Physics and Sports Sciences, University of Erlangen, Henkestrasse 91, Erlangen, 91052, Germany

    Wolfgang Kemmler PhD & Simon von Stengel PhD

Authors
  1. Wolfgang Kemmler PhD
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  2. Simon von Stengel PhD
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Correspondence to Wolfgang Kemmler PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA

    Mehrsheed Sinaki

  2. Institute of Clinical Osteology and Clinic “DER FÜRSTENHOF”, German Osteology Foundation, Bad Pyrmont, Niedersachsen, Germany

    Michael Pfeifer

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Kemmler, W., von Stengel, S. (2017). Application of Electrical Modalities on Muscle Stimulation. In: Sinaki, M., Pfeifer, M. (eds) Non-Pharmacological Management of Osteoporosis. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54016-0_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54016-0_11

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