Interferential Electrical Stimulation and Vasodilatation in Healthy Individuals

Interferential Electrical Stimulation Improves Peripheral Vasodilatation in Healthy Individuals: A Randomized Crossover Study

Interferential electrical stimulation (IES) increases local blood flow. It is not known whether increases in blood flow may be caused by inhibition of sympathetic activity, mediated by muscle metaboreflex activity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of IES on metaboreflex activation in healthy subjects.

The study sample consisted of 11 healthy young individuals. All subjects were non-smokers, non-obese and free of any signs or symptoms of disease, as revealed by medical history, physical examination and electrocardiogram at rest and during cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Exclusion criteria were pregnancy, breast-feeding, alcohol or drug abuse, and any medication with potential effects on cardiovascular variables. Subjects were asked not to drink caffeine-containing drinks or exercise for at least 12 and 48 hours, respectively, before the experimental protocols.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects are non-smokers
• non-obese
• and free of any signs or symptoms of disease

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnancy
• breast-feeding
• alcohol or drug abuse
• medication with potential effects on cardiovascular variables