J Korean Phys Ther.  2022 Oct;34(5):205-211. 10.18857/jkpt.2022.34.5.205.

The Effect of an Abdominal Drawing-In Maneuver Combined with Low·High Frequency Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on Trunk Muscle Activity, Muscle Fatigue, and Balance in Stroke Patients

• Kang JI
• Jeong DK
• Baek SY
• Heo SH

• KMID: 2536776
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.18857/jkpt.2022.34.5.205

Abstract

Purpose
This study investigated the effects of an intervention that combined the abdominal drawing-in maneuver and frequency-specific neuromuscular electrical stimulation on changes in trunk muscle activity, muscle fatigue, and balance in stroke patients.
Methods
Thirty stroke patients were randomly assigned to two groups. Fifteen subjects were assigned to group I which performed the abdominal drawing-in maneuver combined with low-frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation and the other 15 subjects to group II where the abdominal drawing-in maneuver was combined with high-frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation. Muscle activity and fatigue were measured using surface electromyography before the intervention. Balance was measured using the Trunk Impairment Scale and re-measured after six weeks of intervention for comparative analysis.
Results
Both groups showed a significant increase in muscle activity and balance (p < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the groups (p > 0.05). In the changes in muscle fatigue, only the experimental group II showed a significant increase in muscle fatigue (p < 0.05). The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05).
Conclusion
It was confirmed that among stroke patients, the combination of the abdominal drawing-in maneuver and low-frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation was more effective in changing the muscle activity and balance of the trunk by minimizing the occurrence of muscle fatigue compared to the combination of the abdominal drawing-in maneuver and high-frequency stimulation. These results can be used as basic data for clinical trunk stabilization training.

Keyword

Stroke; Abdominal drawing-in maneuver; Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation; Muscle activity; Muscle fatigue; Balance