Aim of analysis

The study examined whether electrically stimulated whole-body training resulted in positive changes in strength, back pain, body image, anthropometry, mood, incontinence, and general health factors.

Methods

A total of 134 subjects, 102 women and 32 men with an average age of 42.5 years, were interviewed and tested before and after six weeks of training. They were compared with a control group consisting of 10 subjects (n=10) and by age and gender. Total whole-body EMS training sessions were performed twice a week for a total of 12 times. The training parameters were composed as follows: Pulse duration/pause 4 s/4 s, 85 Hz, square pulses, pulse width 350µs. A training session consisted of a 10-15 minute familiarization session followed by 25 minutes of training with static exercise positions. Subsequently, a five-minute training program was performed with the following training parameters: (pulse duration 1 s, pulse pause 1 s, 100Hz, rectangular pulses, pulse width 150 µs). 18 subjects terminated the training prematurely.

Results

Maximum strength increased by 12.2% and strength endurance by 69.3%. Female subjects benefited more from the training than male subjects (13.6% vs. 7.3%). BMI and body weight remained about the same. Among female subjects, body circumference significantly reduced at the chest (- 0.7 cm), thigh (- 0.4 cm), waist (- 1.4 cm), and hips (- 1.1 cm). Among male subjects, waist circumference decreased (- 1.1 cm) with simultaneous increases in upper arms (+ 1.5 cm), chest (+ 1.2 cm), and thigh (+0.3 cm). No improvements were noted in the control group, while subjects in the control group had gained in hips and waist over the period.

In addition, 86.8% reported positive body sculpting effects. 90% perceived the EMS training as positive. 83% stated that they felt less tense and 89.1% felt more stability. Stronger improvements, especially in patients with complaints, were noted with height and intensities. However, greater muscle soreness also occurred here.

University of Bayreuth, 2003. J. Vatter.

Aim of analysis

The influence of whole-body electrostimulation on body composition as well as strength within the adult relationship was analyzed.

Methods

The analysis includes clinical randomized trials. Within the intervention groups, all subjects must have completed the same exercises with a whole-body electrical stimulation suit. Those data from adult subjects who had no prior experience with whole-body EMS should be considered. Primary endpoints of this study are muscle mass or fat-free mass and percent fat or fat mass. Secondary endpoints are muscle and maximal strength.

Results

Body composition in women (pre- and post-menopausal) and in trained subjects has been effectively altered by whole-body electrostimulation. Previous studies have also found an increase in performance and strength in the elderly, as well as in professional athletes. However, no systematic study has examined the effect of both variables in either group of persons.

2021. L. Rodriguez-Santana, J. C. Adsudar, G. Louro, J. Perez-Gomez.

Aim of analysis

The objective of the case study was to investigate the efficiency of EMS training during tennis training.

Methods

Antelope accompanied tennis player Sophia Bergner for three months. In addition to Sophia’s normal training, she performed EMS training two to three times a week. After the three months, Sophia’s strength and mobility were measured using FPZ equipment from the company DAVID.

Results

After the three months, the following strength gains were measured for Sophia: Trunk extension increased by 12 percent, trunk flexion decreased by 5.4 percent. The punching movement or rotation with her right arm increased by 25.2 percent, with her left arm it was even 51.9 percent. Strength gains in rotation of both outer shoulder joints improved by 19.5 percent. Strength gains were also observed in her legs: The strength in her right leg improved by 6.4 percent, and that of her left leg improved by 17.1 percent. An improved strength gain of 29.2 percent was observed on the leg press, and the strength gain of knee flexion on both sides was 11.5 percent.

Publication year: 2022

Methods

A total of 80 sports students from the German Sport University Cologne were randomized into the following 8 different training groups: EMS, maximal strength, rapid strength, strength endurance, vibration, hypertrophy, EMS/hypertrophy, vibration/hypertrophy. Subjects had strength training experience of at least two years and a sports fitness certificate. Training sessions were performed by the subjects twice a week for 4 weeks. Classical training and strength diagnostics were performed on the Leg Extension and a Leg Curl machine. After a warm-up on a bicycle ergometer, the strength diagnostic procedure was performed.

Results

An increase in maximum power could only be increased with the help of EMS training via the velocity component, with 40% additional load (29%). The velocity component, together with the strength component, determines dynamic performance. Even the training groups with typical maximal strength or rapid strength designs were able to significantly increase maximal performance only in conjunction with or exclusively via the strength component. Thus, at submaximal intensity, dynamic EMS training appears to offer new opportunities to increase practice-relevant maximal power.

German Sport University Cologne, 2009. J. Mester, S. Nowak, J. Schmithüsen, H. Kleinöder, U. Speicher.

Aim of analysis
The object of the study was to investigate the influence of WB EMS (whole body ems) and HIT on muscle strength and body composition in middle-aged men. For this purpose, 48 untrained, healthy men aged between 30 and 50 years were randomly assigned to a WB-EMS group (3 sessions in two weeks) or a HIT group (2 sessions in one week). Both groups trained for a total of 16 weeks. The WB EMS group trained with intermittent stimulation (6 s WB-EMS, 4 s rest; 85 Hz, 350 µs) for 20 min and the HIT group as a “single-set-to-failure protocol.”

Results
In both groups, the changes in LBM (lean body mass) were significant (HIT 1.25% ± 1.44% vs. WB EMS). The differences between the groups were not significant. Back extensor strength and leg extensor strength increased in the WB EMS group and in the HIT group, but again no significant differences were recorded between groups. Corresponding to these changes, changes were also noted for body fat.

Conclusion
Based on the study results, WB EMS can be considered as a costly but at also time time-saving alternative to HIT resistance training for those individuals who want to achieve improvement in overall body and strength composition.

2016. W. Kemmler. M. Teschler, A. Weißenfels, M. Bebenek, M. Fröhlich, M. Kohl, S. von Stengel.

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Aim of analysis

The object of the study was to investigate the effects of two methods of electrical stimulation on calf circumference, skinfold thickness, and maximum isometric force of the stimulated and unstimulated (contralateral) legs.

Methods

The subjects consisted of 36 men who voluntarily participated in the study and were each assigned to one of three groups. Over a period of 21 days, subjects in groups 1 and 2 were stimulated daily with the electrical stimulation method of the triceps surae muscle. Group 1 was stimulated with a low frequency alternating current (50 Hz) and group 2 with a higher frequency alternating current (20000 Hz). The third group was the control group.

Results

The maximum isometric muscle strength of the stimulated (50.3% and 58.8%) and non-stimulated (contralateral) muscles in group 1 and group 2 increased significantly (39.7% and 32.2%). Such a significant increase in maximal isometric force was not observed in group 3 (control group). In both experimental groups, calf circumference also increased. In group 2, skinfold thickness decreased by 21.6%.

International Journal of Sports Medicine, 1987. M. Cabric, H. J. Appell.

Methods
80 sports students trained the leg flexor and leg extensor muscles twice a week on training machines (company GYM80) in different groups (muscle building, strength endurance, maximum strength; in 3 series each). For this purpose, the subjects trained with different additional loads (30 to 90% of the individual maximum strength; 1 repetition maximum) with 3 to 15 repetitions. The sports students had at least 2 years of experience with strength training before the start of the study. Another group trained with whole-body EMS. For this, subjects in this group performed lunges and squats without additional load under electrical stimulation (3 series, 10 repetitions, load/pause 6 s/4s, pulse frequency 85Hz, pulse width350µs, rectangular pulse). Training would be twice weekly for 4 weeks. The subjects’ dynamics were measured by power, which is composed of force and velocity and can be increased via these components.

Results
The leg extension and leg flexor muscle performance improved significantly in all groups that performed strength training. These improvements occurred across the strength factor, except in the whole-body EMS group and the mixed WB-EMS/muscle-building group. Only these two groups showed significant improvements in speed. The improvement in measured performance was via increased speed by approximately 30. Thus, speed, which is not easy to target, was improved within a short period of time. This could be due to the fact that the fast muscle fibers are directly targeted via electrical stimulation during whole-body EMS training. Furthermore, the results could show that whole-body EMS in combination with a dynamic execution of a movement can be a promising way of speed and strength training, as long as the whole-body EMS training is used in a well-dosed way.

Medicalsports network, 2007. H. Kleinöder.

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Aim of analysis
The effects of electrostimulation training of 14 competitive swimmers on their swimming performance and strength of the latissimus dorsi muscle were to be investigated in the study.

Methods
For this purpose, the subjects were assigned to an electrostimulated training group (7 subjects) and a control group (7 subjects). With the help of an isokinetic dynamometer, the peak torques at different speeds (from -60 deg.s(-1) to 360 deg.s(-1)) during extension as well as flexion of the arm were to be registered. The subjects’ performances were measured over a 50-meter freestyle swim as well as over a 25-meter pull buoy.

Results
A significant increase (P < .05) was recorded for peak torques under concentric, isometric, and eccentric conditions for the electrostimulated training group. There was also a significant decrease in swim times within the electrostimulation training group of 0.38 +/- 0.24 s for the 50-m freestyle and 0.19 +/- 0.14 s for the 25-m pull-buoy. No significant differences were found within the control group. Variations in peak torque (measured in the eccentric condition; -60 deg.s(-1)) were associated with variations in performance within the control group (r = 0.77; P < 0.01). Thus, it can be said that swimming performance as well as latissimus dorsi muscle strength of competitive swimmers can be improved with the help of an electrostimulated training program.

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 1995. F Pichon, J. C. Chatard, A. Martin, & G. Cometti.

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Aim of analysis

The aim of this stury was to investigate whether electromyostimulation training lasting less than 15 minutes would improve muscle strength and other parameters. It was also intended to measure the degree of muscle tissue stress caused by EMS training, the intensity, and indirectly the effectiveness of the training.

Methods

Fifty-five male sport students with a mean age of 22.9 years were randomly divided into two training groups: Group 1 trained for 5 minutes with EMS, and Group 2 trained for 10 minutes with EMS (n = 22 for each). In addition, there was a control group (n = 11). For a total of 6 weeks, the subjects trained twice a week with the following stimulation parameters: Pulse duration 4 s, pulse pause 4 s, frequency 80 Hz, pulse width 350 μs, bipolar square pulses. Dynamic maximum strength, strength endurance, body weight, body fat percentage, and CK (creatine kinase) levels were determined 24 hours after training. Body perception, mood, and state of mind were also determined.

Results

The dynamic strength endurance and maximum strength were increased highly significantly (p ≤ 0.001) in both training groups: From up to 41% and 34%, respectively, in strength endurance and from up to 10% and 8%, respectively, in maximum strength. No significant difference in strength effects could be measured (p > 0.05). A significant weight gain of 0.83 % was determined for group 1 and 0.90 % for group 2. In contrast, no improvements were observed in body fat content. Creatine kinase levels were 595 U/l in group 1 and slightly higher at 761 U/l in group 2. Creatine kinase activity was primarily influenced by training intensity.
ConclusionThe strength increases did not improve with a shortened working time to 5 and 10 minutes, respectively, unlike with previous studies. The results indicate that a training duration of approximately 15 minutes is considered optimal to achieve strength gains. The high increase in creatine kinase levels after EMS training indicates that the muscles were subjected to a very intense load. However, a shortened training duration does not decisively change the activity of the creatine kinase enzyme, but rather it seems that the current intensity plays an important role in increasing creatine kinase.

Unpublished diploma thesis, University of Bayreuth, 2006. W.-U. Boeck-Behrens, D. Mainka.

Aim of analysis
The influence of electrostimulated strength exercises on anaerobic performance of tennis players during the preparation season was to be investigated in the study.

Methods
12 tennis players (7 female and 5 male) completed 9 training sessions for the quadriceps over 3 weeks, each lasting 16 minutes (frequency: 85 Hz; on-off ratio: 5.25-25 seconds). For this purpose, electrostimulated training sessions were integrated into the tennis training sessions. Shuttle sprint time, maximum quadriceps force, and vertical jump height were measured.

Results
Compared to the start of the study, jump height from countermovement was significantly higher at week five (+5.3%) and week six (+6.4%) (p < 0.05). In the sixth week, subjects showed a significantly shortened 2 x 10-meter sprint time (-3.3%) compared to pre-training (p = 0.004). The training parameters were linearly progressive within the 3-week training period. Thus, electrostimulated strength training was successfully integrated into the training. Anaerobic power and stretch-shortening cycle power exhibited delayed improvement throughout the study period. The study results indicate that progressive electrostimulated strength training can be integrated into the early tennis season and improve anaerobic performance for both women and men.

2009. N. Maffiuletti, J. Bramanti, M. Jubeau, M. Bizzini, G. Deley, G. Cometti.

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