Treatment parameters of high frequency electrical stimulation as established on the electro-stim 180

Tremendous interest has developed regarding the use of electrical stimulation in both treatment and strengthening regimens. The Electro Stim 180 (Numed, Joliet, IL) is manufactured in Canada and imported into the United States. This unit functions at 2500 cycles per second with output similar to that developed by a Russian electrical stimulation device. A paucity of treatment parameters exists regarding this apparatus. Fifteen normal subjects participated in this study to establish treatment parameters in an exercise regimen. All subjects (mean age, 24) were pretreated isometrically and isokinetically in knee extension bilaterally using a Cybex II (Cybex, Ronkonkama, NY). The subjects were divided into three groups with group one receiving stimulation each day during a 10-day period and group two receiving stimulation on alternate days of a 10-day period, while group three served as a control. All treatment sessions consisted of 10 isometric contractions of 15 seconds' duration, interspaced with 50 seconds of rest. Current was applied as tolerated to the left knee extensor mechanism during each trial. Current accommodation, strength of generated contraction, other associated treatment effects and strength differences were recorded. It was concluded that the Electro-Stim 180 is capable of generating greater than 60% of the maximal isometric voluntary knee extension, that stimulation is somewhat unpleasant, and that a tremendous degree of current accommodation is possible. Although strength gains were not significant in this particular study, they approached significance and, hence, indicate the need for further study in this area.