Wide-pulse electrical stimulation to an intrinsic foot muscle induces acute functional changes in forefoot-rearfoot coupling behaviour during walking.

摘要: Interventions for strengthening intrinsic foot muscles may be beneficial rehabilitation from overuse injuries. In this study the acute effects of high-frequency, low-intensity wide-pulse electrical stimulation (WPS) over an muscle on subsequent function during walking was assessed in healthy participants. WPS delivered to m. abductor hallucis (m.AH) non-dominant relaxed standing. 3-dimensional forefoot (FF)--rearfoot (RF) coordination quantified with a vector coding technique within separate periods stance phase functional motion. 4 types coordinative strategies between FF and RF were interpreted compared PRE-to-POST-WPS both experimental control feet. Bilateral electromyography (EMG) m.AH analysed intervention period evidence neuromuscular adaptation. The results showed that significantly modulated FF-RF mid-stance, indicative more stable foot. Specifically, statistically significant increase eversion concomitant inversion frontal plane RF-dominated adduction transverse observed. Subject-specific increases post-stimulus EMG activation observed but not reflected overall group effect. It is concluded structural integrity enhanced following session mechanical effect most likely due induced post-tetanic potentiation synaptic transmission.