A new electrode design to improve outcomes in the treatment of chronic non-healing wounds in diabetes.

Background: Chronic wounds are life-threatening in people with diabetes. Some studies show that electrical stimulation (ES) can help wounds heal, while others do not. But, ES is usually applied using a two-electrode system, where current distribution is greatest in the center line between the electrodes.

Estimation of the distribution of intramuscular current during electrical stimulation of the quadriceps muscle.

Electrical stimulation is commonly used for strengthening muscle but little evidence exists as to the optimal electrode size, waveform, or frequency to apply. Three male and three female subjects (22-40 years old) were examined during electrical stimulation of the quadriceps muscle. Two self adhesive electrode sizes were examined, 2 cm x 2 cm and 2 cm x 4 cm.

Interrelationships between body fat and skin blood flow and the current required for electrical stimulation of human muscle.

There is variability between individuals in the current needed to elicit a contraction in human muscle with surface electrodes. To understand what might be causing some of this variability, 25 subjects whose average age was 24.4+/-2.

The influence of local versus global heat on the healing of chronic wounds in patients with diabetes.

Background: In a previous study, it was shown that placing a subject with chronic diabetic ulcers in a warm room prior to the use of electrical stimulation dramatically increased the healing rate. However, global heating is impractical in many therapeutic environments, and therefore in the present investigation the effect of global heat versus using a local heat source to warm the wound was investigated.

Methods: Twenty-nine male and female subjects participated in a series of experiments to determine the healing associated with electrical stimulation with the application of local heat through a heat lamp compared to global heating of the subject in a warm room.

The interrelationships between electrical stimulation, the environment surrounding the vascular endothelial cells of the skin, and the role of nitric oxide in mediating the blood flow response to electrical stimulation.

Background: Electrical stimulation (ES) is a commonly used modality in physical therapy for treating wounds such as diabetic ulcers and pressure sores but the mechanism of its effect on skin blood flow (BF) has not been determined.

Material/methods: Ten subjects were examined during ES of the skin above the quadriceps muscle with biphasic sine wave stimulation at a frequency of 30 Hertz, pulse width 250 microseconds. BF was measured between the electrodes with a Laser Doppler Flow meter.

Isometric endurance, body and skin temperature and limb and skin blood flow during the menstrual cycle.

Background: Limb blood flow and skin and deep tissue temperature change during the menstrual cycle. However, the impact of these changes on isometric exercise performance has not been investigated.

Material/methods: Isometric endurance was assessed at contraction tensions of 20, 40 and 60% of the maximal voluntary contraction strength (MVC) of the handgrip muscles in 8 women every other day throughout their menstrual cycles (MC).

The effect of aging on conductive heat exchange in the skin at two environmental temperatures.

Background: Ageing diminishes the blood flow (BF) response of the skin to autonomic stressors. While the diminished response of skin BF to global heating has been well documented, the effect of this reduction in skin BF on the ability of the skin to dissipate heat has not. When heat is added to the skin by the application of hot packs, if heat is not adequately removed, the skin can become dangerously hot and become damaged.