Development of a new exercise program wiht electrical muslce stimulation and its application to the prevention of hypertension

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K11361
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59020:Sports sciences-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokushima
• Principal Investigator: MIURA Hajime 徳島大学, 大学院社会産業理工学研究部(社会総合科学域), 教授 (10274193)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 電気刺激 / 運動プログラム / 高血圧症 / 動脈機能

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of cycling training with electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) applied to the lower limb on brachial artery endothelial function (FMD). The sedentary adults were randomly assigned to either cycling at 50%VO2max (C), cycling at less than 50%VO2max with EMS, which was equivalent to 50%VO2max of cycling (LC+EMS), and cycling at low intensity, which was 50%VO2max of cycling minus oxygen uptake of EMS (LC). The subjects were engaged in 20 min of each exercise twice a week for 8 weeks. The FMD was measured using a high-resolution ultrasound device. The FMD increased significantly after C and LC+EMS and the FMD in C and C+EMS was significantly higher than LC. The present results support the idea that low-intensity-cyling with EMS might be useful strategy for improving vascular endothelial function in frail elderly or subjects suffering from osteoarthritis as well as sedentary adults.

Free Research Field

運動生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では，低強度の持久的自転車こぎ運動時に下肢へ骨格筋電気刺激を付加する運動プログラムが動脈機能に及ぼす影響について検討した．その結果，低強度のみの運動時よりも，骨格筋電気刺激を加えて運動することで，動脈の機能が著しく改善し，その程度は中程度で運動した時と同様の効果とあった．このことから，低強度の持久的運動時に下肢へ骨格筋電気刺激を付加する運動プログラムは，フレイル等の低体力者，膝/腰等の運動器疾患者の高血圧症を予防するための運動プログラムの一つになることが示唆された．