TY - JOUR
T1 - Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Preserves Leg Lean Mass in Geriatric Patients
AU - Karlsen, Anders
AU - Cullum, Christopher Kjaer
AU - Norheim, Kristoffer Larsen
AU - Scheel, Frederik Ulrik
AU - Zinglersen, Amanda Hempel
AU - Vahlgren, Julie
AU - Schjerling, Peter
AU - Kjaer, Michael
AU - Mackey, Abigail L.
PY - 2020/4/1
Y1 - 2020/4/1
N2 - Aim This study aimed to examine changes in lean mass during hospitalization in geriatric patients and the effect of muscle activation by neuromuscular electrical stimulation. Methods Thirteen patients (69-94 yr) at a geriatric ward completed tests at hospital admission (days 2-3) and discharge (days 8-10). One leg received daily stimulation of the knee extensors, whereas the other leg served as a control leg. Lean mass was evaluated by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scans and muscle thickness by ultrasound scans. Muscle biopsies were collected from both legs at admission and discharge in nine patients and analyzed for fiber size, satellite cell number, and activation and expression of genes associated with muscle protein synthesis and breakdown, connective tissue, and cellular stress. Results The relative decline in leg lean mass and midthigh region lean mass was larger in the control (-2.8% ± 1.5%) versus the stimulated leg (-0.5% ± 1.4%, P < 0.05). Although there were no changes in fiber size or satellite cell number, the mRNA data revealed that, compared with control, the stimulation resulted in a downregulation of myostatin (P < 0.05) and a similar trend for MAFbx (P = 0.099), together with an upregulation of Collagen I (P < 0.001), TenascinC (P < 0.001), CD68 (P < 0.01), and Ki67 (P < 0.05) mRNA. Conclusion These findings demonstrate a moderate decline in leg lean mass during a hospital stay in geriatric patients, whereas leg lean mass was preserved with daily neuromuscular electrical muscle activation. At the cellular level, the stimulation had a clear influence on suppression of atrophy signaling pathways in parallel with a stimulation of connective tissue and cellular remodeling processes.
AB - Aim This study aimed to examine changes in lean mass during hospitalization in geriatric patients and the effect of muscle activation by neuromuscular electrical stimulation. Methods Thirteen patients (69-94 yr) at a geriatric ward completed tests at hospital admission (days 2-3) and discharge (days 8-10). One leg received daily stimulation of the knee extensors, whereas the other leg served as a control leg. Lean mass was evaluated by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scans and muscle thickness by ultrasound scans. Muscle biopsies were collected from both legs at admission and discharge in nine patients and analyzed for fiber size, satellite cell number, and activation and expression of genes associated with muscle protein synthesis and breakdown, connective tissue, and cellular stress. Results The relative decline in leg lean mass and midthigh region lean mass was larger in the control (-2.8% ± 1.5%) versus the stimulated leg (-0.5% ± 1.4%, P < 0.05). Although there were no changes in fiber size or satellite cell number, the mRNA data revealed that, compared with control, the stimulation resulted in a downregulation of myostatin (P < 0.05) and a similar trend for MAFbx (P = 0.099), together with an upregulation of Collagen I (P < 0.001), TenascinC (P < 0.001), CD68 (P < 0.01), and Ki67 (P < 0.05) mRNA. Conclusion These findings demonstrate a moderate decline in leg lean mass during a hospital stay in geriatric patients, whereas leg lean mass was preserved with daily neuromuscular electrical muscle activation. At the cellular level, the stimulation had a clear influence on suppression of atrophy signaling pathways in parallel with a stimulation of connective tissue and cellular remodeling processes.
KW - Muscle Atrophy
KW - Muscle Activation
KW - Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation
KW - Satellite Cells
KW - Gene Expression
U2 - 10.1249/mss.0000000000002191
DO - 10.1249/mss.0000000000002191
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 31688649
SN - 0195-9131
VL - Publish Ahead of Print
JO - Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
JF - Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
ER -