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Harmsen JF, Sistig A, Fasse A, et al. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Reduces Leg Cramps in Patients With Lumbar Degenerative Disorders: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial. Neuromodulation. 2020;24(8):1483-1492doi: 10.1111/ner.13315.
Harmsen, J. F., Sistig, A., Fasse, A., Hackl, M., Wegmann, K., & Behringer, M. (2021). Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Reduces Leg Cramps in Patients With Lumbar Degenerative Disorders: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial. Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society, 24(8), 1483-1492. https://doi.org/10.1111/ner.13315
Harmsen, Jan-Frieder, et al. "Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Reduces Leg Cramps in Patients With Lumbar Degenerative Disorders: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial." Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society vol. 24,8 (2021): 1483-1492. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/ner.13315
Harmsen JF, Sistig A, Fasse A, Hackl M, Wegmann K, Behringer M. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Reduces Leg Cramps in Patients With Lumbar Degenerative Disorders: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial. Neuromodulation. 2021 Dec;24(8):1483-1492. doi: 10.1111/ner.13315. Epub 2020 Nov 09. PMID: 33169444.
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Neuromodulation. 2021 Dec;24(8):1483-1492. doi: 10.1111/ner.13315. Epub 2020 Nov 09.

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Reduces Leg Cramps in Patients With Lumbar Degenerative Disorders: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society

Jan-Frieder Harmsen, Anna Sistig, Alessandro Fasse, Michael Hackl, Kilian Wegmann, Michael Behringer

Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Sport Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.
  2. Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
  3. Faculty of Medicine, University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
  4. ITIS Foundation - Z43, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
  5. Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma surgery, University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.

PMID: 33169444 DOI: 10.1111/ner.13315

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) and lumbar disc herniation (LDH) are often accompanied by frequently occurring leg cramps severely affecting patients' life and sleep quality. Recent evidence suggests that neuromuscular electric stimulation (NMES) of cramp-prone muscles may prevent cramps in lumbar disorders.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two men and women (63 ± 9 years) with LSS and/or LDH suffering from cramps were randomly allocated to four different groups. Unilateral stimulation of the gastrocnemius was applied twice a week over four weeks (3 × 6 × 5 sec stimulation trains at 30 Hz above the individual cramp threshold frequency [CTF]). Three groups received either 85%, 55%, or 25% of their maximum tolerated stimulation intensity, whereas one group only received pseudo-stimulation.

RESULTS: The number of reported leg cramps decreased in the 25% (25 ± 14 to 7 ± 4; p = 0.002), 55% (24 ± 10 to 10 ± 11; p = 0.014) and 85%NMES (23 ± 17 to 1 ± 1; p < 0.001) group, whereas it remained unchanged after pseudo-stimulation (20 ± 32 to 19 ± 33; p > 0.999). In the 25% and 85%NMES group, this improvement was accompanied by an increased CTF (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: Regularly applied NMES of the calf muscles reduces leg cramps in patients with LSS/LDH even at low stimulation intensity.

© 2020 The Authors. Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Neuromodulation Society.

Keywords: Disc herniation; NMES; electromyostimulation; gastrocnemius; hyperexcitability; lumbar spinal canal stenosis

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