MyoBravo Bedienungsanleitung / Operators Manual
59
The Effect of Different Frequencies
A very short burst of electrical stimulation produces only a short contraction
or „single shock“ after which the muscle falls back into its natural form and
length, which it possesses in the resting position. If the stimulation occurs
sequentially, we realise that the contracting effects caused by overlapping of
the contracting phases are additive, as the mechanical twitches last distinctly
longer than the electrical stimulation. This phenomena is called „incomplete
tetanus“. Neither „single shock“ nor „incomplete tetanus“ will normally be
observed in an arbitrary human movement.
The phenomena of „complete tetanus“ means the state of a muscular
contraction which is caused by reoccurring electrical stimulation of the motoric
nerves with a sufficiently high frequency. Hereby the individual shocks are
amalgamated and are no longer distinguishable. In this situation, the muscle
contracts and stiffens through the tension produced by the muscle; a
measurable power is exercised at the tendon endings. Nearly all muscular
contractions of human muscles possess the characteristic feature of a
„complete tetanus“.
