Comparison of different heat modalities for treating delayed-onset muscle soreness in people with diabetes.

Background: Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a serious problem for people who do not exercise on a regular basis. Although the best preventive measure for diabetes and for maintaining a low hemoglobin A1c is exercise, muscle soreness is common in people with diabetes. For people with diabetes, DOMS is rarely reported in exercise studies.

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.

The effect of the moisture content of a local heat source on the blood flow response of the skin.

Numerous studies have examined the effect of local and global heating of the body on skin blood flow. However, the effect of the moisture content of the heat source on the skin blood flow response has not been examined. Thirty-three subjects, without diabetes or cardiovascular disease, between the ages of 22 and 32 were examined to determine the relationship between the effects of dry vs.

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 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.