The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of the neuromuscular electrical stimulation (ES) on the metabolic and morfometric profile of the tibialis anterior muscle, antagonist to the soleus muscle which was stimulate, under the joint immobilization condition of the ankle for 7 and 15 days. The immobilization promoted the reduction in the muscle mass (I7: 17.36%, I15: 20.83%), in the glycogen content (I7: 48%, I15: 48%), in the muscle fibers areas (I7: 27%, I15: 40%) and increase in intramuscular connective tissue density (I7: 122%, I15: 206%). The EE didn't promote significant alterations in the mass of the immobilized groups, however, promoted increase in the glycogen (IEE7: 31.25%; IEE15: 56.25%), reduction in the muscle fibers areas (IEE7: 14%, IEE15: 24.69%) and reduction in the connective tissue density (IEE7: 25.63%, IEE15: 49.09%) when compared with the respective immobilized groups.
Immobilization; muscle disuse; metabolic; morphometric; neuromuscular electrical stimulation; rehabilitation
