Introduction: In this study we investigated whether burst-modulated wide-pulse neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) can improve the H-reflex and activation efficiency of sensory fibers.
Methods: NMES-induced electromyography (EMG) was recorded from hindpaw plantar muscles in 11 anesthetized rats. A burst-modulated wide pulse (mWP) with three carrier frequencies (2 kHz, 5 kHz, and 10 kHz) and a continuous wide-pulse (WP) were delivered to the tibial nerve of each rat. The evoked Hoffman (H)-reflexes were measured to evaluate nerve activation efficiency using the H-reflex recruitment curve (HRC).
Results: Relative to WP simulation, mWP stimulation required less electrical charge to excite sensory fibers and improved the H-reflex recruitment. Greater electrical charge and smaller recruitment gains were obtained with increased carrier frequency of mWP.
Discussion: mWP NMES can improve stimulation efficiency and improve recruitment of sensory fibers on tibial nerve stimulation, which may help to optimize NMES stimulus parameters.
Keywords: H-reflex; burst-modulated wide pulse; carrier frequency; neuromuscular electrical stimulation; sensory fiber activation.
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