Effects of unilateral, low-frequency, neuromuscular stimulation on superficial circulation in lower extremities of patients with peripheral vascular disease.

Abstract

The effects of unilateral, low-frequency, neuromuscular stimulation on the circulation in skin of the lower extremities were studied in eight subjects with peripheral vascular disease and eight control subjects with normal peripheral vasculature. Sixty minutes of stimulation (at 2 Hz), of sufficient intensity to produce visible contraction of musculature, was applied through cutaneous electrodes placed over the common peroneal nerve and dorsum of the foot. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, bilateral great-toe photoplethysmographic waveform, and bilateral pedal skin temperature were recorded at 30-min intervals during stimulation and 30 min after stimulation. Mean differences in recordings before and after stimulation were then calculated for each parameter, showing in subjects with peripheral vascular disease significant increases of 5.3 +/- 2.1 mm and 0.5 +/- 0.1 degree C for ipsilateral photoplethysmographic waveform amplitude and pedal skin temperature, respectively. Mean differences for the remaining parameters were not significant. Recorded parameters in the control group did not change after stimulation. These results demonstrate that low-frequency, neuromuscular stimulation produces regional cutaneous vasodilation in subjects with peripheral vascular disease. No evidence of generalized vasodilation after neuromuscular stimulation was found.