Popliteal blood flow and plantar flexion force due to neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) of the calf muscle pump are strongly associated with NMES intensity

In spite of significant gains in venous flow using Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) of the calf muscles, little is known about the relationship between the applied electrical stimulus and the resulting venous blood flow in the deep veins of the leg. This retrospective study of repeated measures of blood flow, muscle force and NMES signals of 14 healthy subjects undergoing a week long NMES protocol aimed to determine the relationship between the applied NMES signals and the resulting muscle force and blood flow measures. Statistical analyses revealed strong correlations between NMES blood flow, NMES plantar flexion force and the applied NMES intensity.