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Biology 1615

Type 2 Fiber Activation with


Electrical Stimulation: A
Preliminary Report
What I learned while trying to learn
Victoria M Clay
7/15/2014

I picked the topic of Fiber Activation with Electrical Stimulation because I am interested
in becoming a Physical Therapist. I already knew that electrical stimulation was a method
commonly used by physical therapists and decided to look for an article that would tell me a bit
more about how it works. The article I found, Type 2 Fiber Activation with Electrical
Stimulation: A preliminary Report, by Steven J Rose, David R Sinacore, Anthony Delitto, and
Douglas S King proved to be an interesting and educational read.
The first thing I needed to know to understand the article was that there are actually
several varieties of muscle fiber within the human body. These muscle fibers are classified as
Type 1 and Type 2. Type 2 has the subcategories of Type 2A and Type 2B.
Type 1 fibers are more commonly known as slow twitch fibers. According to Elizabeth
Quinn, The slow muscles are more efficient at using oxygen to generate more fuel (known as
ATP) for continuous, extended muscle contractions over a long time. They fire more slowly than
fast twitch fibers and can go for a long time before they fatigue. Therefore, slow twitch fibers are
great at helping athletes run marathons and bicycle for hours. (Quinn)
Type 2 fibers are typically known as fast twitch fibers. I learned that these fibers are
adept at short, but quick bursts of movement. Type 2 fibers are fueled by anaerobic metabolism.
They produce similar force per contraction that Type 1 fiber do, but because they are fueled by
anaerobic respiration, they lack endurance. To give an example, sprinters and speed-lifters would
use Type 2 fibers in their exercises. (Quinn) Type 2A fibers are sometimes called intermediate
fibers. These fibers may use either aerobic or anaerobic metabolism to fuel themselves. Type 2B
fibers use strictly anaerobic metabolism and have the highest contraction rates as well as the
highest fatigue rates out of all the muscle fibers. (Quinn)
The next bit of information I needed to research was Electrical Stimulation and how it
works in regards to Physical Therapy. I learned that Electrical Stimulation has been used since
the 1960s and may have mixed results depending on the individual receiving the therapy.
Electrical Stimulation treatment involves placing small electrodes, devices that conduct
electricity, on the skin over the part of the body that's in pain; they are held in place with
adhesive. The electrodes are then attached to a machine that releases small waves of electricity,
sending tiny electrical impulses through the electrodes to the painful joint or area of the body.
(Rodriguez and Bass)
Understanding this new information about muscle fibers and Electrical Stimulation, it
was very interesting to me to learn that Electrical Stimulation activates mostly Type 2 muscle
fibers. Electrical Stimulation selectively triggers Type 2A and 2B fibers, leaving type one fibers
relatively untouched. (Sinacore, Delitto and King)
I also learned that this research may have some exciting repercussions in the medical
world. The authors of the article mentioned that there are several chronic diseases that result in
Type 2 selective muscle atrophy. Electrical Stimulation most likely will not restore function to
these patients muscles, but it may be beneficial in halting the atrophy from becoming worse.
(Sinacore, Delitto and King)
Though the article I read was focused on Electrical Stimulation, I learned far more about
the different types of muscle fibers that I did about Electrical Stimulation. It may also be noted
that though the article (Rodriguez and Bass)was interesting and the research is promising,
nothing definitive can be pulled from the article as it is a preliminary study and all the results
were recorded from one subject.
Works Cited:
Sinacore, David R, et al. "Type II Fiber Activation with Electrical Stimulation: A Preliminary
Report." Physical Therapy (1990): 9.
Quinn, Elizabeth. About.com. 16 May 2014. 10 July 2014
<http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/anatomyandphysiology/a/MuscleFiberType.htm>.
Rodriguez, Diana and Pat F Bass. Electrical Stimulation for Pain Managment. 4 March 2010. 9
July 2014 <http://www.everydayhealth.com/pain-management/electrical-stimulation-
therapies.aspx>.

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