Application of Muscle/Nerve Stimulation in Health and Disease: 4 (Advances in Muscle Research) - Tapa dura

The first evidence that electrical changes can cause muscles to contract was p- vided by Galvani (1791). Galvani’s ideas about ‘animal electricity’ were explored during the 19th and 20th century when it was firmly established that ‘electricity’ is one of the most important mechanisms used for communication by the nervous system and muscle. These researches lead to the development of ever more soph- ticated equipment that could either record the electrical changes in nerves and muscles, or elicit functional changes by electrically stimulating these structures. It was indeed the combination of these two methods that elucidated many of the basic principles about the function of the nervous system. Following these exciting findings, it was discovered that electrical stimulation and the functions elicited by it also lead to long-term changes in the properties of nerves and particularly muscles. Recent findings help us to understand the mec- nisms by which activity induced by electrical stimulation can influence mature, fully differentiated cells, in particular muscles, blood vessels and nerves. Electrically elicited activity determines the properties of muscle fibres by activating a sequence of signalling pathways that change the gene expression of the muscle. Thus, elect- cal activity graduated from a simple mechanism that is used to elicit muscle c- traction, to a system that could induce permanent changes in muscles and modify most of its characteristic properties.

The book provides essential information for Colleges and Training Centres who offer physiotherapy, beauty therapy and sports science courses as it explains both the scientific principles and the practical applications of electrotherapy. It also offers valuable information for all those interested in keeping fit with electrical stimulation, in an increasingly sedentary society where active exercise is difficult to maintain at adequate levels or when an injury or illness prevents active exercise. Electrical stimulation is an invaluable method of achieving better recovery of function after disabilities due to malfunction of the neuromuscular system, such as neurological disorders, stroke, spinal cord injury, and muscle diseases. Electrical stimulation is now well established as an effective and user-friendly tool for toning, strengthening and firming muscles. Health and beauty centres use electrical stimulation for body and face shaping and contouring, sports professionals use it for muscle training and recovery. However, there is still some unease both in the scientific community and the general public regarding electrical stimulation. This book explains exactly how electrical stimulation activates and transforms muscle, how it works on the cardiovascular system compared to active exercise and how it can be used both for healthy individuals and those needing stimulation for rehabilitation and recovery. It includes a comprehensive user's guide for the practical application of electrotherapy.