Adaptive changes in muscle activity after cryotherapy treatment: Potential mechanism for improvement the functional state in patients with multiple sclerosis

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Radecka, Aleksandra^a | Knyszyńska, Anna^a | Łuczak, Joanna^{b; c} | Lubkowska, Anna^{a; *}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Functional Diagnostics and Physical Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland | [b] College of Engineering and Health in Warsaw, Faculty of Health Sciences, Warsaw, Poland | [c] Department of Cardiological Rehabilitation, Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Anna Lubkowska, ŻoŁnierska 54 Str., 71-210 Szczecin, Poland. E-mail: anna.lubkowska@pum.edu.pl.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:The available literature lacks data about the influence of whole body cryotherapy (WBC) on muscle activity in patients with sclerosis multiplex (MS). OBJECTIVE:Assessment of the influence of the 20 WBC series on the surface electromyography (sEMG) signal and the relationship between it and the functional state in patients with MS. METHODS:The study group was 114 of MS patients (aged 45.24±11.88yr.,) which 74 of them received 20 of WBC. An assessment was made of: the hand grip (HGS), Timed 25-Foot Walk, Fatigue Severity Scale, sEMG signal from the dominant limb. RESULTS:After a series of 20 WBC: in the rest electromyograms, an increase of extensor carpi radialis (ECR) and a decrease of flexor carpi radialis (FCR) amplitude were demonstrated (non-normalized signal ECR p = 0.0001); significant differences in sEMG rest signals between ECR and FCR have decreased; for voluntary contraction in both assessed antagonistic muscle amplitude was significantly decreased (p = 0.0005; p = 0.0316, p = 0.0185); an increase of HGS (p < 0.001); gait improvement (p = 0.001); decrease fatigue (p = 0.024). No significant changes were observed in the control group. CONCLUSIONS:Series of 20 WBC improves the functional state and reduces fatigue in patients with MS, which may be due to adaptive changes in bioelectrical muscle activity.

Keywords: Surface electromyography, whole-body cryotherapy, multiple sclerosis, hand grip strength, fatigue severity scale, timed 25-foot walk

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-201535

Journal: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 48, no. 1, pp. 119-131, 2021