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Interventional strategies to combat muscle disuse atrophy in humans: Focus on neuromuscular electrical stimulation and dietary protein
Dirks, Marlou L. Wall, Benjamin T. van Loon, Luc
Dirks, Marlou L.
Wall, Benjamin T.
van Loon, Luc
Abstract
Numerous situations, such as the recovery from illness or rehabilitation after injury, necessitate a period of muscle disuse in otherwise healthy individuals. Even a few days of immobilization or bed rest can lead to substantial loss of skeletal muscle tissue and compromise metabolic health. The decline in muscle mass is attributed largely to a decline in postabsorptive and postprandial muscle protein synthesis rates. Reintroduction of some level of muscle contraction by the application of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) can augment both postabsorptive and postprandial muscle protein synthesis rates and, as such, prevent or attenuate muscle loss during short-term disuse in various clinical populations. Whereas maintenance of habitual dietary protein consumption is a prerequisite for muscle mass maintenance, supplementing dietary protein above habitual intake levels does not prevent muscle loss during disuse in otherwise healthy humans. Combining the anabolic properties of physical activity (or surrogates) with appropriate nutritional support likely further increases the capacity to preserve skeletal muscle mass during a period of disuse. Therefore, effective interventional strategies to prevent or alleviate muscle disuse atrophy should include both exercise (mimetics) and appropriate nutritional support.
Keywords
protein, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, protein balance, nutrition
Date
2018
Type
Journal article
Journal
Journal of Applied Physiology
Book
Volume
125
Issue
3
Page Range
850-861
Article Number
ACU Department
Centre for Exercise and Nutrition
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
File Access
Controlled