A home-based protocol of electrical muscle stimulation for quadriceps muscle strength in older adults with XXXX of the knee.

@entity626 @entity121 @entity571 @entity158
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether home-based neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) applied to the @entity121 ( @entity121 ) muscle increases strength, physical activity, and physical performance in older adults with @entity626 ( @entity571 ). METHODS: Thirty-four adults (> 60 yrs) with radiographically confirmed symptomatic knee @entity571 were randomized to NMES plus education or education only (EDU). The primary outcome was isometric @entity121 peak torque (PTIso), with secondary outcomes of daily step counts, total activity vector magnitude, 100-foot walk-turn-walk, timed stair climb, chair rise, and @entity158 . The NMES group used a portable electrical muscle stimulator 3 days a week for unilateral @entity121 training with incremental increases in the intensity of isometric contraction to 30-40% of maximum over 12 weeks. Both groups received the 12-week Arthritis Self-Management course and were followed an additional 12 weeks. RESULTS: The stimulated knee-extensor showed a 9.1% increase in 120 degrees PTIso compared to a 7% loss in the EDU group (time x group interaction for 120 degrees PTIso; p = 0.04). The chair rise time decreased by 11% in the NMES group, whereas the EDU group saw a 7% reduction (p = 0.01, time; p = 0.9, group). Similarly, both groups improved their walk time by approximately 7% (p = 0.02, time; p = 0.61 group). Severity of @entity158 reported following intervention did not differ between groups. CONCLUSION: In older adults with knee @entity571 , a home-based NMES protocol appears to be a promising therapy for increasing @entity121 strength in adults with knee @entity571 without exacerbating @entity158 symptoms.
