UNDERSTANDING NEUROMUSCULAR ELECTRICAL STIMULATION (NMES): MECHANISM AND CLINICAL APPLICATION IN ACL REHABILITATION
With Insights from Matthew Buckthorpe’s research.
Following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), patients often experience profound quadriceps dysfunction, including atrophy, impaired voluntary activation, and disrupted motor unit recruitment. Traditional strength training alone may be insufficient, especially in the presence of arthrogenic muscle inhibition (AMI). In this context, neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has emerged as a clinically validated adjunct, supported by current research including that of Dr. Matthew Buckthorpe.
How NMES Works: The Science Behind the Stimulation
NMES uses surface electrodes to deliver targeted electrical impulses that directly depolarize peripheral motor neurons, bypassing impaired central drive. This produces involuntary muscle contractions and offers several unique physiological benefits:
•
Direct activation of inhibited motor units
• Synchronous, spatially fixed recruitment patterns differing from voluntary contraction • Increased muscle protein synthesis and mitochondrial activity • Enhanced circulation, neuromuscular junction efficiency, and neural plasticity
These adaptations collectively promote muscle hypertrophy, strength restoration, and improved neuromuscular control.
“
NMES appears to be a promising intervention for use after ACLR....NMES undoubtedly should aid in the quest to achieve complete recovery of quadriceps strength.
- Buckthorpe et al., 2019 2
11
Made with FlippingBook - PDF hosting