Introduction: Magnetic stimulation allows for painless and non-invasive extrinsic motor nerve stimulation. Despite several advantages, the limited coupling to the target reduces the application of magnetic pulses in rehabilitation. According to experience with electrical stimulation, magnetic bursts could remove this constraint.
Methods: A novel burst stimulator was used to apply single and burst pulses to the femoral nerve in 10 adult dogs. A figure-of-eight coil was connected, and pulses were applied at 7.5 HZ. Contractions of the quadriceps muscle were measured via an angle force transducer.
Results: Muscle forces were significantly higher upon burst stimulation than after single pulses. Four consecutive burst pulses proved most effective. Stimulation by more bursts resulted in fatigue.
Conclusion: Burst stimulation is superior to standard magnetic single pulses, and 4 consecutive burst pulses proved most effective.
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