Estimulação elétrica neuromuscular de média freqüência em cães com atrofia muscular induzida

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of gain in mass in these muscles in femoral quadriceps of dogs with induced muscular atrophy using medium frequency Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES), and to compare NMES in different periods of treatment. Twelve dogs, weighing between 15 and 25 kg, were randomly distributed in three groups: group I (control), group II, (NMES for 60 min) and group III (NMES for 30 min). For the induction of the muscular atrophy, the right femoral-tibial-patellar joint was immobilized for 30 days by the percutaneous transfixation type II method. After this period, the device was removed. NMES was carried out in the dogs of groups II and III, three times a week, with an interval of 48 h between each session, during 60 days. The parameters measured were: thigh perimetry, knee goniometry, creatine kinase (CK) enzyme activity and morphometry of the muscular fibers of the vastus lateralis muscle, collected through a muscular biopsy. The measurements of thigh perimetry, goniometry and biopsy of the vastus lateralis muscle were carried out at time zero, that is, before the immobilization, at 30 days (just after the removing of the immobilization) and at 90 days (after the surgical procedure). Blood samples for CK evaluation were collected before (T0), two (T1) and six (T2) hours post-NMES on days 0, 15, 30, and 60 after removing the immobilization. NMES was used on the femoral quadriceps muscle at a frequency of 2500Hz, 50% of pulse duration, and the on/off time ratio was 1:2. There was no difference regarding the values of thigh perimetry, goniometry and CK enzyme activity. As for the morphometry of the fibers of the vastus lateralis, a significant increase (p<0.05) was observed in the transversal area of the treated groups (II and III) at 90 days from the surgical procedure for immobilization when compared with time zero. Among the three groups, group II presented a greater transversal area (p<0.05) related to the others. Thus, it can be concluded that NMES of medium frequency brings about hypertrophy of the vastus lateralis muscle in dogs after induced muscular atrophy. NMES for 60 min (group II) presents a greater muscular gain related to the other groups studied.