MUSCLE STIMULATION IN CAST-IMMOBILIZED LIMB

摘要

A method of electrically stimulating muscles in a cast-bearing limb so as to inhibit muscle atrophy, the method including the steps of: (a) providing a system including: (i) at least two electrodes; (ii) a signal generator operatively connected to the electrodes, and (iii) a power source providing power to the signal generator; (b situating the electrodes in contact with tissue on the cast-bearing limb; (c) stimulating the muscles by externally inducing a percutaneous flow of electrical current between the electrodes through the tissue by establishing a plurality of external bipolar voltage waves across the electrodes, the plurality of bipolar voltage waves defining a treatment period, and (d) applying, over a 24-hour period, at least 12 distinct treatment periods.