Research

The result of a three year programme of applied research carried out at the Human Performance Centre, Academy of Sport, Faculty of Engineering and Science, London South Bank University, London has validated the efficacy of the Circulation Booster®, neuromuscular electro-stimulation (NMES).

The study concludes that in healthy populations the Circulation Booster produces:

• Significant increases in blood flow circulation in the lower leg
• Successful reduction in swelling at the lower leg
• Significant increase in the temperature of the foot
• Significant decrease of the deoxygenated haemoglobin (HHb) concentration levels in both calf and foot superficial tissues and significant increase in oxygen saturation (TOI) in the muscle tissue of both foot and calf;
• Significant reduction in pain and discomfort caused by induced poor blood circulation and swelling

2011 Study

Dr. Katya Mileva, Darren James, Steve Hunter and Lisa Zaidell - Circulation Booster®: Investigation of the effects of transcutaneous electrical foot stimulation on the peripheral macro‐ and micro‐circulation, 2011.

Circulation Booster®: Investigation of the effects of transcutaneous electrical foot stimulation on the peripheral macro- and micro-circulation.

Dr. Katya Mileva, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, SE1 0AA, London, UK

Background

The general aim of this study was to investigate whether innocuous transcutaneous electrical stimulation applied to the sole of the feet via the Circulation Booster® can improve peripheral circulation, and thus, counteract fluid retention induced by prolonged immobilisation in healthy human.

Methods

Subjects
Sixteen healthy volunteers participated in this study, which was approved by the London South Bank University Research Ethics Committee (UREC 1138/2011), and conducted in compliance with the World Medical Association’s Declaration of Helsinki (2008).

Experimental design
This study was designed as a repeated measures randomised controlled trial. Participants were required to remain seated for 40mins, “relaxed seated inactivity”, followed by 20mins of transcutaneous electrical stimulation delivered to the feet by the Circulation Booster®.

Results

20 minutes of transcutaneous electrical stimulation delivered to the feet through the Circulation Booster® footplate at an intensity above the motor threshold for the lower limb muscles produced:

• successful attenuation of the limb swelling (‐2.0±0.8%, F=10.93, p=0.005) at all anatomical distal leg segments (foot, calf, and leg);
• significant increase of the temperature at the foot (by 0.3±0.2 oC, F=12.9, p=0.003)
• enhanced blood flux in the foot (106±31%, F=23, p<0.0001) and calf (276±34%, F=101, p<0.0001) tissues greatly above the baseline levels, which remained augmented for at least 5min postintervention;
• significant decrease of the deoxygenated haemoglobin (HHb) concentration levels in both calf (‐33±6%, F=26.3, p<0.0001) and foot (‐405±190%, F=18, p=0.001) superficial tissues and significant increase in oxygen saturation of the tissue haemoglobin (TOI) in both foot (21±18%, F=4.8, p=0.044) and calf (1.7±0.1%, F=51, p<0.0001);
• significant attenuation of the pain (‐5±3%, p=0.051) and discomfort (‐15±4%, p=0.003) ratings compared to those registered at the end of the 40‐min stasis period, indicating that both interventions successfully attenuated pain and discomfort induced by prolonged inactivity.

Conclusions

20min foot stimulation session using the Circulation Booster® successfully attenuated limb swelling and venous pooling in the lower limbs of healthy participants induced by prolonged (40min) quiet sitting. Compared to mild foot voluntary exercise, electrical foot stimulation was at least or even more efficient to resolve the induced by prolonged inactivity peripheral circulation insufficiencies related to peripheral tissue perfusion and oxygenation.

Future Studies

Additional studies into medical conditions that may benefit from increased peripheral blood circulation are under consideration and include:

• Diabetic foot care
• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Wound healing

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