Effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation frequency on muscles of the tongue.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) for the treatment of swallowing disorders is delivered at a variety of stimulation frequencies. We examined the effects of stimulation frequency on tongue muscle plasticity in an aging rat model.

Methods

Eighty-six young, middle-aged, and old rats were assigned to either bilateral hypoglossal nerve stimulation at 10 or 100 Hz (5 days/week, 8 weeks), sham, or no-implantation conditions. Muscle contractile properties and myosin heavy chain (MyHC) composition were determined for hyoglossus (HG) and styloglossus (SG) muscles.

Results

Eight weeks of 100-Hz stimulation resulted in the greatest changes in muscle contractile function with significantly longer contraction and half-decay times, the greatest reduction in f

SUBMITTER: Kletzien H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6160334 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature