REDUCED FUNCTIONALITY AND KINESIOPHOBIA IN PATIENTS WITH HEART FAILURE: USE OF ALTERNATIVE THERAPEUTIC STRATEGIES

The surface electrodes will be placed on the upper lateral side of the quadriceps, 5 cm below the inguinal fold and 3 cm above the upper edge of the patella of both lower extremities, bilaterally and with a slight flexion of the knees. They will be fixed with bandages or tape, and conductive gel will be used below the electrodes. Each electrically stimulated contraction will have a frequency of 10 Hz, duration of 10 seconds (ON time: 10s), interspersed with a 20-second rest period (OFF time: 20s), with a pulse width of 400 µs. The protocol will last a total of 8 weeks, being performed 3 times a week, with application of the equipment for 30 minutes each day.

The surface electrodes will be placed on the upper lateral side of the quadriceps, 5 cm below the inguinal fold and 3 cm above the upper edge of the patella of both lower extremities, bilaterally and with a slight flexion of the knees. They will be fixed with bandages or adhesive tape, and conductive gel will be used below the electrodes. Each electrically stimulated contraction will have a frequency of 50 Hz, duration of 10 seconds (ON time: 10s), interspersed by a period of 20 seconds of rest (OFF time: 20s), with a pulse width of 400 µs. The protocol will last a total of 8 weeks, being performed 3 times a week, with application of the equipment for 30 minutes each day.

The surface electrodes will be placed on the upper lateral side of the quadriceps, 5 cm below the inguinal fold and 3 cm above the upper edge of the patella of both lower extremities, bilaterally and with a slight flexion of the knees. They will be fixed with bandages or adhesive tape, and conductive gel will be used below the electrodes. No muscle contractions will be generated. The protocol will last a total of 8 weeks, being performed 3 times a week, with application of the equipment for 30 minutes each day.