The mechanism for prevention
of muscle atrophy may be related
to maintenance of muscle protein synthesis that would otherwise decline with immobility
(20). Only a small number of
studies have reported no strength gain
with NMES therapy. In all cases, this
lack of benefit has been attributed to a
very short duration of the stimulation
pulse (e.g., 45–100 sec) or the limited
numbers of treatment sessions (e.g., 15
sessions) delivered to patients (21–24).
With NMES, larger gains in muscle
strength have been observed in weaker
muscles, disused muscles, and nondominant
limbs