Randomized trial examines NMES effects on pressure in sacral and ischial regions, suggesting beneficial implications for at-risk populations.
Key Points
This study aims to determine if NMES applied to gluteus maximus with or without hamstrings can reduce interface pressure in specific regions during 60° head elevation.
Twenty healthy adults participated in a randomized trial with three conditions: control, NMES on gluteus maximus, and NMES on both gluteus maximus and hamstrings.
Interface pressure was measured for 3 minutes under each condition, with pressure indices calculated for sacral and ischial regions.
Data analysis involved one-way repeated-measures ANOVA with Bonferroni-adjusted post hoc comparisons.
Sacral peak pressure index (PPI) was significantly lower with both NMES conditions compared to the control (p < 0.001).
Ischial PPI was significantly lower with combined NMES compared to control and gluteus maximus-only conditions (p < 0.001).
No significant difference in ischial PPI was found between control and gluteus maximus-only conditions.