STIMULATION OF DENERVATED SKELETAL MUSCLE WITH ALTERNATING CURRENT

Abstract

For threshold stimulation with alternating current, the denervated gastrocnemius muscle of the dog has an optimum frequency in the neighborhood of 1-3 cycles/sec. For normal muscle the range is 60-100 cycles/sec. The optimum frequency and the slope of the intensity-frequency curve of the denervated muscle is a function of the index of response chosen to evaluate it. When the denervated muscle is called upon to do considerable work or exert considerable tension the optimum frequency is about 25 cycles/sec., and the slope of the curve below this point becomes very steep. The relation of these results to the interpretation of the mechanical response in denervated muscle and to practical electrotherapy is discussed.