Patients lose a significant amount of muscle following major abdominal surgery. This is partly due to a catabolic response to the surgical insult and inflammation, but is also probably due to a lack of muscle use secondary to immobility. This study will aim to assess whether some or even all of postoperative muscle loss in the upper leg muscle group is preventable through electrical muscle stimulation to mimic physical activity.
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Vastus Lateralis muscle thickness (cm)
Timeframe: 5 days
Vastus Lateralis muscle fibre length
Timeframe: 5 days
Vastus Lateralis muscle fibre pennation angle
Timeframe: 5 days
Compound muscle action potentials (CMAP) as measured by surface electromyography
Timeframe: 5 days
Near Fibre Motor Unit Potentials as measured by surface EMG
Timeframe: 5 days
Motor unit number estimates ((MUNE) as derived from surface EMG analysis)
Timeframe: 5 days