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Can Mild Electroshock Be Administered To Enhance Leg And Pelvic Muscle Strength?
Question: My dad has weak or atrophied pelvic abductor muscles such that he is unable to walk without assistance and is confined to a bed most of the time. I am wondering if there are electrical stimulation treatments that can help his muscles regain strength while he is bedridden, since much exercise is not really an option at this point. My personal observations of him in 2008 is that he has signs of the 'Trendlenberg Gait', (Weak pelvic abductor muscles). Can mild electroshock be administered to these msucles to build them up ? P.S. he is also on a pace-maker.
Brief Answer:
Yes. It will help.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is an alternative method of enhancing leg and pelvic muscle strength other than exercise. It is well tolerated and leads to improvement in muscle function, exercise capacity and quality of life.
It is more successful in acute illnesses where the person is likely to recover after sometime. In chronic bed ridden patients the benefit may not be much.
It does not require active patient cooperation, has an acute beneficial systemic effect on muscle microcirculation thus improving the muscle strength. Since the electrical stimulations are mild and superficial these are not likely to interfere with the peacemaker.You can opt for this treatment for your father.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal
Yes. It will help.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is an alternative method of enhancing leg and pelvic muscle strength other than exercise. It is well tolerated and leads to improvement in muscle function, exercise capacity and quality of life.
It is more successful in acute illnesses where the person is likely to recover after sometime. In chronic bed ridden patients the benefit may not be much.
It does not require active patient cooperation, has an acute beneficial systemic effect on muscle microcirculation thus improving the muscle strength. Since the electrical stimulations are mild and superficial these are not likely to interfere with the peacemaker.You can opt for this treatment for your father.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
This is going to sound like a weird question, but when you mentioned increased circulation in the muscle it got me thinking. Isn't this sort of involuntary contraction of a muscle by electrical stimulation similar in some respects to atrial fibirllation itself ? In other words, if atrial fibrillation causes blood to clot by 'mishandling it' or 'pooling it' in the valves, couldn't the same type of clotting activity also be produced in muscles under electrical stimulation ?
Are you aware of any history of this happening in real life ? Might it be a risk ?
Are you aware of any history of this happening in real life ? Might it be a risk ?
Brief Answer:
Not likely.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
There are no such reports of clotting available in the literature. The electrical stimulation in the skeletal muscle is not likely to cause clot formation as an irregular contraction of this muscle is not likely like a cardiac muscle. Please do not worry. Such a risk of clot formation is not likely.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.
Not likely.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
There are no such reports of clotting available in the literature. The electrical stimulation in the skeletal muscle is not likely to cause clot formation as an irregular contraction of this muscle is not likely like a cardiac muscle. Please do not worry. Such a risk of clot formation is not likely.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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