Circulatory response of digital arteries associated with electrical stimulation of calf muscle in healthy subjects

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of electrical stimulation (2,500-Hz sine wave modulated at 50 bursts per second) of the posterior calf musculature on the blood circulation of an unexercised part of the body, the ipsilateral digital arteries. Intensities of electrical stimulation sufficient to produce 15% and 30% of isometric maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) of the plantar flexor muscles were used. Twenty-four healthy subjects participated in this study and were assigned either to an Experimental Group receiving electrical stimulation (n = 13) or to a Control Group not receiving electrical stimulation (n = 11). Analysis of data revealed significant differences in finger blood flow when the calf musculature was stimulated electrically. We found significant differences in blood flow of the finger when torques produced by electrical stimulation of the calf musculature were raised to 15% and 30% of MCV. The results of the study indicate that blood flow in the ipsilateral finger decreases significantly when the posterior calf musculature is exercised artificially with electrical stimulation bursts.