Does NMES Help Relieve Lower Limb Oedema and Improve Joint Mobility and Skin Tissue Oxygenation Levels?

Does NMES Help Relieve Lower Limb Oedema and Improve Joint Mobility and Skin Tissue Oxygenation Levels?

Does Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) Help Relieve Lower Limb Oedema and Improve Joint Mobility and Skin Tissue Oxygenation Levels?

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) will be facilitated through the use of a stimulator, with the patient in a semi recumbent position, using UltraStim electrodes. Two 5 cm x 5 cm electrodes will be placed over the soleus muscle for calf stimulation. The participant will be allowed to ramp up the stimulus level themselves to get used to the sensation and determine their maximum tolerated stimulus level. A goniometer will be used to assess mobility at the knee and ankle joints. Transcutaneous oxygen measurements (tcpO2) will be assessed using the PERIMED Periflux System 500 tcpO2 monitor. The level of oedema will be measured using the figure of eight measurement, tape circumference measurement and water displacement measurement. Comfort will also be assessed by use of a 100mm non-hatched visual analogue scale (VAS). Each participant will be asked to indicate their level of comfort following the application of NMES.

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) will be facilitated through the use of a two-channel, research stimulator, with the patient in a semi recumbent position, using UltraStim electrodes. Two 5 cm x 5 cm electrodes will be placed over the soleus muscle for calf stimulation. The participant will be allowed to ramp up the stimulus level themselves to get used to the sensation and determine their maximum tolerated stimulus level. A goniometer will be used to assess mobility at the knee and ankle joints. Transcutaneous oxygen measurements (tcpO2) will be assessed using the PERIMED Periflux System 500 tcpO2 monitor. The level of oedema will be measured using the figure of eight measurement, tape circumference measurement and water displacement measurement. Comfort will also be assessed by use of a 100mm non-hatched visual analogue scale (VAS). Each participant will be asked to indicate their level of comfort following the application of NMES. VAS pain scores of 30 mm or less will be categorised as mild pain, between 31 and 69 mm as moderate pain, and scores of 70 mm or greater as severe pain.

Joint Mobility, Skin Tissue Oxygenation, Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation, Goniometry, Transcutaneous Oxygen Measurements (tcpO2), Water Displacement

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is to be applied using a custom-built, two-channel stimulator, Bioelectronics Research Cluster, National University of Ireland, Galway) with a frequency of 36 Hz, a balanced biphasic waveform with a pulse width of 350μs, a ramp up time of 500ms, a contraction time of 1s and a ramp down time of 500ms. Stimulation is to be applied every 20 seconds over a period of 90 minutes. Its affect on oedema reduction, joint mobility and skin oxygenation will be assessed both before and after its application.

Oedema measurements (figure of eight measurement, tape circumference measurement and water displacement measurement) will be taken before and after the application of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in order to assess its affect on the reduction of oedema.

A goniometer will be used to assess mobility at the ankle and knee joints both before and after the application of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to the soleus muscle of the calf.

Transcutaneous oxygen measurements (tcpO2) will be assessed using the PERIMED Periflux System 5000 tcpO2 monitor both before and after the application of NMES to the soleus muscle in order to assess its affect on skin tissue oxygenation levels.

Inclusion Criteria: Patients that present to Merlin Park Podiatry Clinic for Podiatric Intervention who on clinical examination present with lower lib swelling/oedema/ Ability to understand the nature of the study. Ability to give informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: Skin ulceration in area of intended electrical stimulation site. Psychiatric disorder. Severe co-morbidity. Patients with uncontrolled heart problems. Patients with pacemakers, DBS. Patients on opioid or neuropathic pain medication.