Impact of long-term electrical stimulation of the lower leg muscles at home on gait speed in community-dwelling older adults

We explored the unknown effects of electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) at home on gait speed. Eighty-one community-dwelling independent older adults were enrolled in a prospective observational study. EMS to the lower leg muscles for 23 minutes per day was added to the daily routine during the 12-week observational period. Comfortable gait speed (CGS), stride length (SL), and plantar centre of gravity (COG) were assessed at enrollment and 12 weeks in a 10-m walking test using plantar sensor shoes. In 43 participants with a CGS of < 1.0 m/sec at enrollment, age, gender, and physical and nutritional features did not differ between the EMS (n = 23) and non-EMS (n = 20) groups. However, absolute changes in CGS and SL after 12 weeks were significantly higher in the EMS group than in the non-EMS group (0.25 vs. 0.02 m/sec, P  = 0.0037; 0.21 vs. 0.03 m, P  = 0.0038; respectively). Moreover, greater distribution of COG to the small toe ball during gait was associated with slower CGS and decreased after EMS. Long-term home EMS targeting the lower leg muscles thus improves reduced gait speed in community-dwelling independent older adults, which may involve changes in the plantar centre of gravity during gait.