The combined effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulations, and blood flow restriction to treat symptoms of muscle damage

This study assessed whether symptoms of muscle damage could be reduced by a combination of therapeutic ultrasound and electrical stimulations, and whether this could be enhanced by blood flow restriction. Before and 48 h after performing eccentric elbow flexion exercises, individuals completed assessments of muscle damage. A 10-min therapeutic ultrasound and electrical stimulation treatment was then applied with and without blood flow restriction to assess short (5 min) and long-term (24 h) improvements. Twenty-three individuals completed the study (11 females). Data were analysed using Bayesian repeated measures ANOVAs. The damaging exercise increased discomfort (BF₁₀ = 2.93e14) and relaxed joint angle (BF₁₀ = 2425.90) while decreasing pain pressure threshold (BF₁₀ = 289.71). Each of these variables was acutely improved with the combination treatment protocol (all BF₁₀ ≥ 74) with no added effect of blood flow restriction. A combination of therapeutic ultrasound and interferential electrical stimulations appeared effective at acutely alleviating symptoms of muscle damage with no additive effect of blood flow restriction.