External electro-stimulation of muscles to induce shivering for aerobic exercise

摘要

A method and apparatus for stimulating a muscle of a subject comprises a signal generator for generating an electrical pulse signal of a frequency and a current amplitude for inducing contractions in the muscle, and electrode 4a-e, apparatus for applying the signal to nerves associated with the muscle to be stimulated or adjacent the muscle, such as leg muscles, of the subject for stimulating the muscle. The frequency and current amplitude of the electrical pulse signal are selected so as to maximize the bulk of the muscle being subjected to the contractions so as to generate a shivering phenomenon therein. The applied pulses may have a frequency of 4Hz to 12Hz, and each pulse may itself comprise a burst of pulses at a frequency above 20Hz (see Fig 2A-C). The induced shivering phenomenon may effect a cardio-vascular training effect, and may be arranged to be used during normal sleep of a subject. Such induced aerobic exercise may be used to treat bed ridden, or disabled patients.