This study is the first to demonstrate that one session of EMS applied to the quadriceps increases cerebral blood flow velocity and cerebral oxygenation, which are pivotal factors for brain health. Thus, EMS has the potential to be used as an interesting option in rehabilitation to increase cerebral perfusion and defend if not improve cognitive function sustainably for people with severe physical limitations who would not be able to perform physical exercise voluntarily.

The efficacy and comfort of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) largely depend on the type of electrodes used. Traditional self-adhesive hydrogel electrodes, while effective, pose limitations in terms of wearability, skin compatibility, and reusability. This randomized crossover trial investigates the performance of a specific textile electrode integrated into garments for NMES of lower extremities, focusing on their potential rehabilitative applications for patients with neurological disorders such as stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS), and spinal cord injury (SCI). In this randomized crossover design, ten healthy subjects participated in the study. Each subject performed isometric knee extension exercises using both textile and hydrogel electrodes in random order. The electrodes were compared in terms of comfort, temporal consistency, stimulation efficiency, and electrical impedance under isometric conditions. Our findings revealed no significant difference between the two types of electrodes across all evaluated parameters. Textile electrodes, used after applying moisturizing lotion to enhance the electrode-skin interface, demonstrated comparable levels of comfort, consistency, and efficiency to hydrogel electrodes. The equivalence of textile and hydrogel electrodes, coupled with the advantages of washability and reusability, positions textile electrodes as a promising alternative for NMES applications, particularly in rehabilitation settings.

An increasing body of evidence confirms the effectiveness of physical exercise (PE) in promoting brain health by preventing age-related cognitive decline and reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. The benefits of PE are attributed to neuroplasticity processes which have been reported to enhance cerebral health. However, moderate to high-intensity PE is necessary to induce these responses and these intensities cannot always be achieved especially by people with physical limitations. As a countermeasure, electrical stimulation (ES) offers several benefits, particularly for improving physical functions, for various neurological diseases. This review aims to provide an overview of key mechanisms that could contribute to the enhancement in brain health in response to ES-induced exercise, including increases in cerebral blood flow, neuronal activity, and humoral pathways. This narrative review also focuses on the effects of ES protocols, applied to both humans and animals, on cognition. Despite a certain paucity of research when compared to the more classical aerobic exercise, it seems that ES could be of interest for improving cerebral health, particularly in people who have difficulty engaging in voluntary exercise.

Functional electrical stimulation (FES)-assisted cycling may reduce perceived effort by lowering the required motor command compared to voluntary cycling.

Brown-Séquard Syndrome (BSS) is a rare neurological condition associated with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). Hemisection of the spinal cord causes paralysis of the homolateral side, and thermoalgesic dy...