Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42133054›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of applied physiology2026

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

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

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Article in European journal of applied physiology, 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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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Hirohisa UeharaDepartment of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, 1-5-29 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0034, Japan. hi-uehara@juntendo.ac.jp.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-8280-0605
Yoshiaki ItoigawaDepartment of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, 1-5-29 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0034, Japan.
Daichi MorikawaDepartment of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, 1-5-29 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0034, Japan.
Hironori TsurukamiDepartment of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, 1-5-29 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0034, Japan.
Yoshimasa SaigoDepartment of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, 1-5-29 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0034, Japan.
Fumitoshi HataeDepartment of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, 1-5-29 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0034, Japan.
Yasutaka YoshimuraDepartment of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, 1-5-29 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0034, Japan.
Kazuki YoshidaDepartment of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, 1-5-29 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0034, Japan.
Muneaki IshijimaDepartment of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, 1-5-29 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0034, Japan.

Funding

Funding from ITO Co., Ltd. Funding from ITO Co., Ltd.
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposePost-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.

methodsFifteen 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.

resultsThe 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.

conclusionThe 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.

Indexed as

ExerciseHamstring MusclesAdultElectric StimulationHumansIsometric ContractionMalePost-Exercise RecoveryRange of Motion, ArticularYoung AdultElectrical stimulationHamstring musclesMuscle stiffnessShear wave elastography

Identifiers

PMID42133054

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.