Influence of Pulse Waveform and Frequency on Evoked Torque, Stimulation Efficiency and Discomfort in Healthy Subjects.

OBJECTIVE To determine the influence of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) pulse waveform and frequency on evoked torque, stimulation efficiency and discomfort at two NMES levels. DESIGN Repeated measures study. The quadriceps muscle of 24 healthy men was stimulated at submaximal (NMESsub) and maximal (NMESmax) levels using two pulse waveforms (symmetrical, asymmetrical) and three pulse frequencies (60, 80, 100 Hz). Repeated measures analysis of variance and effect sizes (ES) were used to verify the effect of pulse waveform and pulse frequency on stimulation efficiency (evoked torque/current intensity) and discomfort and to assess the magnitude of the differences, respectively. RESULTS Stimulation efficiency was higher for symmetrical (NMESsub: 0.88 ± 0.21 Nm/mA; NMESmax: 1.27 ± 0.46 Nm/mA) compared to asymmetrical (NMESsub: 0.77 ± 0.21 Nm/mA; NMESmax: 1.02 ± 0.34 Nm/mA; P ≤ 0.001; ES = 0.56-0.66), but did not significantly differ between frequencies (P = 0.17). At both NMES levels, there were no statistically significant differences in discomfort between pulse waveforms or frequencies. CONCLUSIONS The higher stimulation efficiency of symmetrical pulses suggests that this waveform would be preferred to asymmetrical pulses in clinical practice. Stimulation frequencies between 60 and 100 Hz can be used interchangeably due to similar efficiency and discomfort.