In healthy adults, NMES improves or
preserves muscle strength through a reduction
in disuse atrophy (15, 19). A
meta-analysis of 35 randomized trials of
NMES in healthy adults (n 1345) concluded
that, during immobilization,
NMES is effective at increasing quadriceps
strength. Furthermore, when combined
with volitional exercise, electrical
stimulation is more effective than exercise
alone (15). The mechanism for prevention
of muscle atrophy may be related
to maintenance of muscle protein synthe