2012 Volume 24 Issue 5 Pages 373-377
[Purpose] Several studies found have that transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is effective for reducing pain and improving physical function. But the influence of TENS on muscle fatigue is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of TENS on muscle fatigue. [Methods] The subjects were ten healthy males. To establish the muscle activity, subjects performed maximum isometric exertion 15 times and electromyography was recorded (TaskI). After this, subjects of the study group received TENS and subjects of the control group rested for 5 minutes. After the intervention each group again performed maximum isometric exertion as in Task1 (TaskII), and VAS and muscle elasticity were measured. [Results] We found that in the study group, the significant decrease in muscle activity during TaskII began later than in TaskI. Furthermore, we found that the fourth trial had a larger in muscle activity than that of the first trial in TaskI in both groups and TaskII of the study group. Conversely, In TaskII performed by the control group, we observed significant decreases. [Conclusions] From the result of this research, we believe that TENS electronically influenced the nervous system to prevent muscle fatigue.