14.13.1 Stage II arterial insufficiency
With intermittent claudication (Stage II), the muscle fibres suer from an oxygen shortage during physical
activity.
The narrowed arteries cannot meet the fibres’ need for oxygen, which increases with walking.
With a chronic reduction in blood flow and a lack of oxygen, the capillary network degenerates and the
fibres lose their oxidative power.
They use the little oxygen that they still receive increasingly badly.
Therefore, the problem becomes twofold: very little oxygen provided and poor use of what oxygen there
is. Low frequency stimulation can act on the fibres’ capacity to use oxygen.
Considerable studies have shown that low frequency stimulation leads to an improvement in the oxidative
capacity of the stimulated muscle (increase in the number and size of mitochondria, increase in oxidative
enzymatic activity). Electrostimulation therefore improves the tolerance of muscle fibres to physical
activity in the case of arterial insuciency and thus increases the walking range of patients suering from
intermittent claudication.
14.13.1.1 Protocol
Arterial insuciency 1
14.13.1.2 Treatment frequency
5 sessions per week for 12 weeks to treat the acute episode.
It is then recommended to keep up treatment with a few weekly sessions.
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