ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) for muscle atrophy in patients with immobilization after surgical fixation of foot and ankle fractures.MethodsThis was a two-arm randomized controlled trial wherein 80 patients were recruited and divided into control (n = 40) and intervention (n = 40) groups. The control group received conventional orthopedic treatment, whereas the intervention group received TEAS and conventional treatment. The intervention group received TEAS 3 times a week for 30 min each time for 8 weeks. The primary outcomes were muscle thickness (MT) and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the rectus femoris and gastrocnemius muscles, whereas the secondary outcome measure was echo intensity (EI). Data were collected before the fixation operations (baseline assessment) and 4 and 8 weeks after intervention.ResultsCompared with baseline, the MT and CSA were reduced in both groups by the end of treatment, whereas EI increased in both groups. At week 4, the reduction in the rectus femoris CSA in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P = .02); however, the between-group differences in the MT and EI (all P .05) were not significant. No serious adverse events were observed in either group.ConclusionOur study showed that TEAS can improve muscle atrophy by attenuating the decline in the muscle CSA. Because this was only a pilot trial, subsequent studies will need longer follow-ups and larger sample sizes.

BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that low-intensity and short-time vibration with a certain frequency can reduce the absorption of bone tissue and increase the quantity and quality of bone through promoting the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of different frequencies of vibration strains on cycle, proliferation and differentiation potency of RAW264.7 cel s cultured in vitro.
METHODS:Passage 6 RAW264.7 cel s in good conditions were randomly divided into six groups, and each group was induced cultured with Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium containing receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand. The final concentration of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand was adjusted to 50μg/L, and then kept without changes. The non-loading group did not loaded with vibration strain, and the other five groups were loaded with 3-10 Hz, 15-35 Hz, 35-45 Hz, 50-70 Hz and 70-90 Hz vibration strains on the RAW264.7 cel s respectively. The other vibration parameters were consistent;the vibration time was 15 min/time with the vibration intensity of 0.3 g, twice per day. The cel cycle and cel proliferation were detected at 3 and 6 days after loading of vibration strains.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After composite vibration loading for 6 days, the cel cycle phase in the vibration groups was changed to some extent when compared with the non-loading group. Compared with non-loading group, the cel number in the G 1 phase of the vibration group was significantly increased (P<0.01);the cel number in the S phase and G 2+M phase of the vibration group was significantly decreased (P<0.01);the vibration parameters in the vibration group were significantly decreased (P<0.01). The results indicate that different frequencies of vibration strains can affect the cel cycle and proliferation, and can inhibit the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts.

10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2013.24.002