The impact of intramuscular-inserted hooked wire electrodes and specific stimulation parameters

Abstract

The importance of FES (functional electrical stimulation) with hooked wire electrodes increases in the diagnostic and therapy methods in the last years. These new potential approaches make it necessary to impale the target muscle and stimulate them. In our pilot experiments we determine how intense the target muscle was injured by repeated impalement with hooked wire electrodes and subsequent electrical stimulation. The triceps brachii muscles of 10 female rats were investigated. Typical signs of mechanical muscle injury and subsequent regeneration can be observed. We can assume that the stimulation protocol had no undesired side effects on muscle structure and function. © 2013 by Walter de Gruyter.