[Use of electric stimulation to prevent the development of muscle changes during hypokinesia].

An attempt was made to use electric stimulation of antigravity muscles of hind limbs of rats exposed to a 15 and 30 day hypokinesia as a method for preventing structural and metabolic disorders that develop in the muscular tissue during a diminished motor activity. The electric stimulation was carried out using the Bion device with a frequency-amplitude modulation. The impulses of an amplitude of 0.7-1 msec and a frequency of 100 to 130 Hz were modulated with a frequency of 0.5 Hz. During the first experimental days the electric stimulation was 5 to 7 min and by the end of the first week it reached 30 min. Throughout the first week the voltage grew from 6-7 to 20 V. Electric stimulation was applied 5 times a week. The favourable effect of the electric stimulation was demonstrated in 4 out of 12 animals during every experimental run. It is suggested that a higher percentage of the protective effect of the method can be achieved with the stimulation ensuring a more intensive influence on the deeply located muscles.