Effect NMES on physical performance in frail elderly during hospitalization.

In recent studies physical training against resistance appeared to be the most successfull to prevent sarcopenia. Because of the bad physical condition of the elderly during a hospital admission resistancetraining can't be applied. A Pilot study of the students physiotherapy earlier this year showed that in the first days/week of a admission the physical load capacity is too low. That's why resistance training is not an option. Therefore we are looking for an other way to prevent functional loss during admission when training against resistance isn't possible. Other recent studies have shown that the application of neuromuscular electrostimulation (NMES) is a possibilty to prevent functional loss. The aim of this researce is therefore to examine the effect of NMES on prevention of progressive and generalised loss of muscle mass and strenght and with that the prevention of functional loss.

NMES will reduce the detoriation of the m. quadriceps during admission in the hospital compared to functional fysiotherapy.

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Neuromuscular electrostimulation of the m. quadriceps