Faculty Collaboration Database

Electrical muscle stimulation in young adults: effect of muscle volume on brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels. Eur J Appl Physiol 2023 Feb;123(2):361-366

Date

10/28/2022

Pubmed ID

36301337

DOI

10.1007/s00421-022-05078-z

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85140606727 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   1 Citation

Abstract

PURPOSE: Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) is known to be effective at stimulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels, but the relationship between the volume of muscle stimulated and BDNF levels is not clear. The purpose of this study was to quantify BDNF as a function of muscle volume stimulated in young adults.

METHODS: Twelve young adults (male, n = 9, age = 27.3 ± 5.5 years) were enrolled in this study. Participants completed three testing conditions in randomized order: 23 min of maximum tolerated bilateral stimulation of (1) the quadriceps muscle or (2) the musculature of the entire lower limbs and (3) control testing and retesting after 23 min without an intervention. Blood samples were collected before, immediately after, 20 min after, and 40 min after the intervention when EMS was applied to the thighs or the entire lower limb conditions. Serum obtained from blood collection was used for BDNF analysis.

RESULTS: The delta value of BDNF for the test and retest in the control condition was - 42.1 ± 73.8 pg/mL, and there was no significant difference between the test and retest BDNF. Compared to stimulation of the quadriceps muscle, stimulation of the entire lower limbs produced significantly higher BDNF at 20 min post-treatment than those at pre-treatment or 40 min post-treatment, and BDNF was also significantly higher immediately post-treatment than those at pre-treatment. Only stimulation of the quadriceps muscle did not induce a significant change between pre- and post-treatment.

CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the volume of muscle stimulation is important for increased BDNF.

Author List

Nishikawa Y, Sakaguchi H, Kawade S, Maeda N, Tanaka S, Hyngstrom A

Author

Allison Hyngstrom PhD Associate Professor in the Physical Therapy department at Marquette University

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
Humans
Lower Extremity
Male
Quadriceps Muscle
Young Adult