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. 2011 Mar;3(2):152-7.
doi: 10.1177/1941738110397871.

Effect of patterned electrical neuromuscular stimulation on vertical jump in collegiate athletes

Dawn T Gulick  1 , John C Castel, Francis X Palermo, David O Draper
Affiliations

Effect of patterned electrical neuromuscular stimulation on vertical jump in collegiate athletes

Dawn T Gulick et al. Sports Health. 2011 Mar.

Abstract

Background: Patterned electrical neuromuscular stimulation (PENS) uses the electrical stimulation of sensory and motor nerves to achieve a skeletal muscle contraction using an electromyogram-derived functional pattern. PENS is used extensively for neuromuscular reeducation and treatment of muscle disuse atrophy.

Purpose: To explore the effectiveness of PENS as applied to the quadriceps muscles on the vertical jump of an athletic population.

Study design: Experimental with control and repeated measures over time.

Methods: Healthy college athletes (54 women, 75 men) were divided into 3 groups (control, n = 30; jump, n = 33; and jump with PENS, n = 63). There was no difference among groups' height and weight. Athletes performed a baseline standing vertical jump using a vertical jump system. The control group continued its normal daily activities with no jumping tasks included. The jump groups performed 3 sets of 12 repetitions with a 2-minute rest between sets at a frequency of 3 times per week. The PENS group did the jumping with the coordination of an electrical stimulation system. Vertical jump was retested after 6 weeks of intervention and 2 weeks after cessation.

Results: A 3-way repeated measures analysis of variance for time (control, jump alone, jump with PENS) revealed a significant difference (P < 0.05) for time and an interaction between time and treatment, as well as a significant difference for the PENS group from baseline to posttest and for the jump group from posttest to follow-up jump. There was no significant difference between groups for the baseline vertical jump.

Conclusions: This study demonstrated that 6 weeks of vertical jump training coordinated with PENS resulted in a greater increase than jumping only or control. This pattern of stimulation with PENS in combination with jump training may positively affect jumping.

Keywords: electrical stimulation; jumping; muscle reeducation; patterned stimulation.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Electrode placement and vertical jumping technique.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Vertical jump by group across pretest, posttest, and follow-up.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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