This study showed, for the first time, that the combined application of a brief muscle lengthening and wide-pulse neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) delivered over the posterior tibial nerve can entail increased torque production as compared with the sole application of NMES. This observation, present only for high stimulation frequencies (100 Hz) and independently of the lengthening speed, is attributed to neural mechanisms, most probably related to increased afferents’ solicitation, although muscular phenomena cannot be excluded. This finding has potential clinical relevance, especially when it comes to finding ways to enhance torque production to optimize the effectiveness of NMES training programs.
Source: Pineau A, Martin A, Lepers R, Papaiordanidou M. Effect of combined electrical stimulation and brief muscle lengthening on torque development. J Appl Physiol. (1985). 2024;136(4):844-852. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00671.2023.
