ReviewArtificial organs2026
Electrical Stimulation of Denervated Muscle: A Narrative Review.
Review in Artificial organs, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Functional and muscle recovery after critical illness: current and future nutritional, physical and metabolic strategies.Annals of intensive care · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundElectrical stimulation is commonly employed for activation of paralyzed muscles in patients with neurological diseases and injuries. However, there are differences in the treatment approaches that are possible for upper motor neuron and lower motor neuron injuries.
methodsThis narrative review synthesizes findings from preclinical studies and clinical reports published over the past decades. Key topics include stimulation parameters, muscle physiology under denervation, and outcomes of invasive and noninvasive interventions. The selection of sources was based on their relevance to denervated muscle stimulation in both experimental and therapeutic contexts.
resultsThis review critically examined the physiological and therapeutic differences between indirect and direct stimulation of muscles in upper motor neuron and lower motor neuron injury situations. It then focused on the much less well-established field of stimulation of denervated muscle, where there remains a pressing need for new clinical approaches. We explained the rationale for stimulating denervated muscles and the practical difficulties encountered in doing so, describing the use of both invasive and noninvasive devices in animal experiments and clinical trials. We then discussed related research using artificial reinnervation for denervated muscle stimulation and suggested directions for future exploration in this dynamic field.
conclusionStimulation of denervated muscle remains a promising but underdeveloped area. Electrical stimulation of denervated muscle can preserve muscle mass and potentially restore function. However, its clinical adoption has been limited by the exceptionally high stimulation thresholds required, which are approximately one thousand times higher than those for indirect muscle stimulation via intact lower motor neurons. These demands lead to significant challenges including discomfort, limited specificity due to the need for large electrodes, and the risk of tissue damage. Artificial reinnervation may offer a promising solution by enabling the use of conventional low-energy stimulation techniques. Additionally, the application of stimulation in free muscle transfers may further expand therapeutic options in this area.
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Registered trials
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