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Purpose <p>Post-exercise increases in muscle stiffness contribute to reduced muscle flexibility and increased injury risk. While electrical stimulation (ES) is used for recovery, its effect on muscle stiffness remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of ES on hamstring muscle stiffness following eccentric exercise.</p> Methods <p>Fifteen healthy men participated in this study. Hamstring muscle stiffness (shear modulus), flexibility (passive straight leg raise angle), and maximal isometric knee flexion force were measured before and after a standardized leg curl exercise, and then at 0, 30, and 60&#xa0;min following ES on one leg. The contralateral leg served as a control. ES was applied using interferential current in the device’s three-dimensional mode for 10&#xa0;min at an intensity that induced visible muscle contraction.</p> Results <p>The leg curl exercise increased the stiffness in the semitendinosus (ST) and semimembranosus (SM). In the ST, the stiffness was significantly decreased at 30&#xa0;min after ES (16.4 ± 8.36&#xa0;kPa) compared with that immediately after exercise (22.1 ± 11.0&#xa0;kPa). The passive straight leg raise angle was decreased after exercise and gradually increased over time, with faster recovery observed when ES was applied. Isometric knee flexion force decreased after exercise but did not significantly improve after ES.</p> Conclusion <p>The application of ES following eccentric exercise may reduce stiffness in the ST and SM muscles and improve flexibility. These findings suggest a potential role for ES in post-exercise recovery protocols. Further investigation is needed to determine the long-term effects and optimal protocols for different muscle groups.</p>

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Electrical stimulation reduces post-exercise muscle stiffness and enhances flexibility in hamstring muscles

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月14日

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  • Hirohisa Uehara,
  • Yoshiaki Itoigawa,
  • Daichi Morikawa,
  • Hironori Tsurukami,
  • Yoshimasa Saigo,
  • Fumitoshi Hatae,
  • Yasutaka Yoshimura,
  • Kazuki Yoshida,
  • Muneaki Ishijima

摘要

Purpose

Post-exercise increases in muscle stiffness contribute to reduced muscle flexibility and increased injury risk. While electrical stimulation (ES) is used for recovery, its effect on muscle stiffness remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of ES on hamstring muscle stiffness following eccentric exercise.

Methods

Fifteen healthy men participated in this study. Hamstring muscle stiffness (shear modulus), flexibility (passive straight leg raise angle), and maximal isometric knee flexion force were measured before and after a standardized leg curl exercise, and then at 0, 30, and 60 min following ES on one leg. The contralateral leg served as a control. ES was applied using interferential current in the device’s three-dimensional mode for 10 min at an intensity that induced visible muscle contraction.

Results

The leg curl exercise increased the stiffness in the semitendinosus (ST) and semimembranosus (SM). In the ST, the stiffness was significantly decreased at 30 min after ES (16.4 ± 8.36 kPa) compared with that immediately after exercise (22.1 ± 11.0 kPa). The passive straight leg raise angle was decreased after exercise and gradually increased over time, with faster recovery observed when ES was applied. Isometric knee flexion force decreased after exercise but did not significantly improve after ES.

Conclusion

The application of ES following eccentric exercise may reduce stiffness in the ST and SM muscles and improve flexibility. These findings suggest a potential role for ES in post-exercise recovery protocols. Further investigation is needed to determine the long-term effects and optimal protocols for different muscle groups.