Handcycling with concurrent lower body low-frequency electromyostimulation significantly increases acute oxygen uptake: implications for rehabilitation and prevention

PeerJ, 2022 · DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13333 · Published: May 18, 2022

Simple Explanation

The study investigates whether using electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) on the lower body during handcycling can increase oxygen uptake. Oxygen uptake is important for aerobic fitness. The researchers compared oxygen uptake during sitting, sitting with EMS, handcycling, and handcycling with EMS. They found that EMS significantly increased oxygen uptake both when sitting and handcycling. This suggests that adding EMS to handcycling could be a useful way to improve cardiovascular fitness, especially for people with spinal cord injuries or other disabilities that limit leg use.

Study Duration

Single lab visit

Participants

26 healthy young adults (13 female)

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
EMS significantly increased oxygen uptake during both sitting and handcycling. Specifically, there were significant differences between SIT vs. EMS_SIT, EMS_SIT vs. HANDCYCLE, and HANDCYCLE vs. EMS_HANDCYCLE.
2
EMS also led to a significant increase in blood lactate levels during sitting and handcycling, suggesting a higher metabolic demand.
3
The combination of handcycling and EMS resulted in a 39.7% increase in oxygen demand compared to handcycling alone.

Research Summary

This study examined the effects of low-frequency EMS applied to the lower extremities during handcycling on acute oxygen uptake in healthy adults. The results showed a significant increase in oxygen uptake and blood lactate levels when EMS was combined with both sitting and handcycling. The findings suggest that EMS can enhance the cardiovascular response to handcycling, potentially making it a more effective exercise modality for improving aerobic capacity, particularly for individuals with limited lower body function. The study highlights the potential of combining handcycling with EMS as a training strategy to improve endurance performance in wheelchair users and rehabilitation populations, warranting further investigation into long-term adaptations.

Practical Implications

Rehabilitation Strategy

EMS during handcycling can be used as a rehabilitation tool to improve cardiovascular fitness in individuals with spinal cord injuries or other mobility impairments.

Enhanced Training

Combining EMS with handcycling may provide a more effective training stimulus for improving aerobic capacity compared to handcycling alone.

Prevention of Deconditioning

The use of EMS during seated rest or handcycling could help prevent cardiovascular deconditioning in populations with limited mobility.

Study Limitations

1
The study was conducted on healthy adults, and the results may not be directly generalizable to individuals with spinal cord injuries due to differences in muscle mass and fiber type composition.
2
The study only assessed acute responses, and further research is needed to investigate the long-term adaptations to combined EMS and handcycling.
3
The stimulation intensity was based on individual pain tolerance, which may introduce variability in the actual stimulus received by the muscles.

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