The combined effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulations, and blood flow restriction to treat symptoms of muscle damage.

Abstract

This study assessed whether symptoms of muscle damage could be reduced by a combination of therapeutic ultrasound and electrical stimulations, and whether this could be enhanced by blood flow restriction. Before and 48 h after performing eccentric elbow flexion exercises, individuals completed assessments of muscle damage. A 10-min therapeutic ultrasound and electrical stimulation treatment was then applied with and without blood flow restriction to assess short (5 min) and long-term (24 h) improvements. Twenty-three individuals completed the study (11 females). Data were analysed using Bayesian repeated measures ANOVAs. The damaging exercise increased discomfort (BF₁₀ = 2.93e14) and relaxed joint angle (BF₁₀ = 2425.90) while decreasing pain pressure threshold (BF₁₀ = 289.71). Each of these variables was acutely improved with the combination treatment protocol (all BF₁₀ ≥ 74) with no added effect of blood flow restriction. A combination of therapeutic ultrasound and interferential electrical stimulations appeared effective at acutely alleviating symptoms of muscle damage with no additive effect of blood flow restriction.