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>.