{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,13]],"date-time":"2026-01-13T00:21:58Z","timestamp":1768263718675,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"Human Kinetics","issue":"5","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2023,7,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:p><jats:italic><jats:bold>Context<\/jats:bold>:<\/jats:italic> Pulsed current and kilohertz frequency alternating current are 2 types of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) currents often used by clinicians during rehabilitation. However, the low methodological quality and the different NMES parameters and protocols used in several studies might explain their inconclusive results in terms of their effects in the evoked torque and the discomfort level. In addition, the neuromuscular efficiency (ie,\u00a0the NMES current type that evokes the highest torque with the lowest current intensity) has not been established yet. Therefore, our objective was to compare the evoked torque, current intensity, neuromuscular efficiency (evoked torque\/current intensity ratio), and discomfort between pulsed current and kilohertz frequency alternating current in healthy people. <jats:italic><jats:bold>Design<\/jats:bold>:<\/jats:italic> A double-blind, randomized crossover trial. <jats:italic><jats:bold>Methods<\/jats:bold>:<\/jats:italic> Thirty healthy men (23.2 [4.5]\u00a0y) participated in the study. Each participant was randomized to 4 current settings: 2\u00a0kilohertz frequency alternating currents with 2.5\u00a0kHz of carrier frequency and similar pulse duration (0.4\u00a0ms) and burst frequency (100\u00a0Hz) but with different burst duty cycles (20% and 50%) and burst durations (2 and 5\u00a0ms); and 2 pulsed currents with similar pulse frequency (100\u00a0Hz) and different pulse duration (2 and 0.4\u00a0ms). The evoked torque, current intensity at the maximal tolerated intensity, neuromuscular efficiency, and discomfort level were evaluated. <jats:italic><jats:bold>Results<\/jats:bold>:<\/jats:italic> Both pulsed currents generated higher evoked torque than the kilohertz frequency alternating currents, despite the similar between-currents discomfort levels. The 2\u00a0ms pulsed current showed lower current intensity and higher neuromuscular efficiency compared with both alternated currents and with the 0.4\u00a0ms pulsed current. <jats:italic><jats:bold>Conclusions<\/jats:bold>:<\/jats:italic> The higher evoked torque, higher neuromuscular efficiency, and similar discomfort of the 2\u00a0ms pulsed current compared with 2.5-kHz frequency alternating current suggests this current as the best choice for clinicians to use in NMES-based protocols.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1123\/jsr.2022-0159","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,2,22]],"date-time":"2023-02-22T18:10:51Z","timestamp":1677089451000},"page":"540-548","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Kilohertz Frequency Alternating Current Induces Less Evoked Torque and Less Neuromuscular Efficiency Than Pulsed Current in Healthy People: A Randomized Crossover Trial"],"prefix":"10.1123","volume":"32","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5988-3344","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Isabel de Almeida","family":"Paz","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Exercise Research Laboratory, School of Physical Education, Physical Therapy and Dance, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil"},{"name":"Health School, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, S\u00e3o Leopoldo, RS, Brazil"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5762-7918","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Francesca Chaida","family":"Sonda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Exercise Research Laboratory, School of Physical Education, Physical Therapy and Dance, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0785-3239","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Matias","family":"Fr\u00f6hlich","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Exercise Research Laboratory, School of Physical Education, Physical Therapy and Dance, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7511-5289","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Jo\u00e3o Luiz Quagliotti","family":"Durigan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Muscle and Tendon Plasticity, Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade de Bras\u00edlia, Distrito Federal, Brazil"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6741-3502","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Marco Aur\u00e9lio","family":"Vaz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Exercise Research Laboratory, School of Physical Education, Physical Therapy and Dance, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"100","reference":[{"issue":"4","key":"r1","series-title":"Arch Phys Med Rehabil","first-page":"806","article-title":"Clinical use of neuromuscular electrical stimulation for neuromuscular rehabilitation: what are we overlooking?","volume":"99","author":"Maffiuletti NA","year":"2018","unstructured":"Maffiuletti NA, Gondin J, Place N, Stevens-Lapsley J, Vivodtzev I, Minetto MA. 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