Increase In Duration Of Phase Research Articles

Effects of amplitude and phase-duration modification on electrically induced contraction force and discomfort.

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is commonly used in rehabilitation. However, the optimal combination of phase-duration and amplitude for enhancing motor output is not yet resolved. To test the effects of increasing phase-duration and amplitude on isometric knee extension force and discomfort, while controlling the effects of electrode-skin resistance and body mass index (BMI). Twenty-one healthy volunteers participated in the study. Stimulation was set at 250 μsec phase-duration and 45Hz to evoke 10% of maximal voluntary isometric contraction of the quadriceps. Electrode-skin resistance was measured. Then, electrically induced contraction (EIC) forces and discomfort level were measured under four conditions: Moderate (25%) or substantial increase (50%) from baseline amplitude with constant phase-duration and moderate (25%) or substantial increase (50%) in phase-duration with amplitude constant. Compared with baseline, EIC force was significantly higher in all intensification conditions, while discomfort was significantly greater in all conditions except for moderate increase in phase-duration (p= 0.44). Amplitude intensification produced significantly higher force and greater discomfort than phase-duration. Electrode-skin resistance and BMI were not significant covariates. Greater force is elicited by increasing amplitude than by similar increase in phase-duration; however, the associated discomfort is also higher. Clinicians may use phase-duration while conditioning for NMES.

Intestinal motility during acute Yersinia enterocolitica enteritis in rabbits.

To determine if Yersinia enterocolitica (YE) enteritis is associated with an alteration of intestinal myoelectric and motor activity, and with an increased rate of aboral transit, New Zealand white rabbits (500-900 g) were surgically prepared with ileal bipolar electrodes and a manometry catheter adjacent to the distal electrode. One week later animals were inoculated with 10(10) organisms of YE in 10 mL NaHCO3 (infected group) or 10 mL NaHCO3 (sham-infected pair-fed and control groups). Daily food intake, weight gain, YE excretion, and stool pattern were noted. Intestinal myoelectric and motor activity over a 6- to 8-h period before and 3, 6, and 14 days after inoculation was compared in infected (I), pair-fed (PF), and control (C) groups. Intestinal transit was evaluated in I and C animals on days 3 and 6 after inoculation by measuring the distribution in the intestinal lumen of 51Cr 20 min after it was instilled directly into the jejunum. Infected animals exhibited diarrhea, fecal excretion of YE, and significantly decreased food intake, weight gain, and survival (11.4 +/- 0.6 days). Infection was associated with a significant (p less than 0.05) decrease in both the cycle period of the migrating myoelectric complex (MMC) and the total number of single, paired, and (or) clustered contractions per MMC, and a significant (p less than 0.001) increase in duration of phase III of the MMC. There was no change in intestinal slow wave frequency (19 cycles/min), motility index per MMC, or the percentage of contractions that propagated in an orad (7%) or aboral (69%) direction or that appeared stationary (25%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)