The effect of percutaneous electrical stimulation in preventing immobilisation-induced muscle atrophy was determined from measurements of quadriceps mass, composition, and rate of protein synthesis in seven men who had a fracture of one tibia immobilised in a long-leg cast for 6 weeks. These features were compared with those of fourteen men with similar injuries who did not use an electrical stimulator. In men who did not use the stimulator, quadriceps cross-sectional area (CSA) at midthigh, measured by ultrasonography, fell by a mean (SD) 17% (10) and the rate of muscle protein synthesis was 23% (10) lower on the immobilised than on the control side (0.037 (0.016) versus 0.048 (0.02) %/h). In contrast, in those who used the stimulator, quadriceps CSA (55.5 (7.3)) cm2 control leg, 50.9 (9.0) cm2 immobilised leg) and the rate of muscle protein synthesis (0.053 (0.009) %/h control leg, 0.059 (0.012) %/h immobilised leg) were similar on the two sides. The results suggest that brief periods of low-voltage percutaneous electrical stimulation will reduce quadriceps atrophy secondary to knee immobilisation, and that the mechanism includes prevention of the fall in muscle protein synthesis that usually occurs on immobilisation.

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