ArticleBMC musculoskeletal disorders2026
Effect of belt electrode-skeletal muscle electrical stimulation on fracture healing in a rat femoral fracture model.
Article in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundBelt electrode–skeletal muscle electrical stimulation (B-SES) has been reported to influence bone remodeling and muscle function. However, its potential role in fracture healing remains incompletely understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of B-SES on fracture repair in a rat femoral fracture model.
methodsTwelve male Sprague–Dawley rats with surgically induced femoral fractures were randomly assigned to either a B-SES group or a control group (n = 6 per group). B-SES was initiated immediately after fracture induction and applied for 20 min per day, 5 days per week, for 4 weeks. At 4 weeks post-fracture, femora, tibiae, periosteum, and vastus medialis muscle were harvested for radiographic assessment, micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), histological analysis, biomechanical testing, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis.
resultsRadiographic evaluation demonstrated improved cortical bone continuity and greater callus formation in the B-SES group. Micro-CT analysis revealed significantly increased callus bone volume, trabecular bone thickness, and trabecular bone number in fractured femora, as well as improved trabecular bone microarchitecture in non-fractured tibiae. Biomechanical testing showed significantly higher yield load and toughness in the B-SES group. Histological analysis confirmed increased callus area in B-SES–treated rats. At 4 weeks post-fracture, RT-PCR analysis of the periosteum showed no significant between-group differences in runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (Rankl), or secreted protein acidic and cysteine rich (Sparc) expression, whereas Sclerostin (Sost) expression was significantly higher in the B-SES group. In skeletal muscle, Myostatin (Mstn) expression was significantly reduced in the B-SES group, while insulin-like growth factor 1 (Igf1) expression did not differ significantly between groups.
conclusionB-SES was associated with improved fracture healing parameters, enhanced bone microarchitecture, and increased mechanical strength in this preclinical model. Reduced Mstn mRNA expression suggests a potential contribution of muscle–bone interactions; however, given the single time-point and transcription-level analyses, these findings should be considered preliminary. Further studies are required to clarify the underlying mechanisms and translational relevance of B-SES in fracture management.
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