Effects of Whole‐Body Electromyostimulation versus High‐Intensity Resistance Exercise on Body Composition and Strength: A Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract

High-intensity (resistance) exercise (HIT) and whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) are both approaches to realize time-efficient favorable changes of body composition and strength. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of WB-EMS compared with the gold standard reference HIT, for improving body composition and muscle strength in middle-aged men. Forty-eight healthy untrained men, 30–50 years old, were randomly allocated to either HIT (2 sessions/week) or a WB-EMS group (3 sessions/2 weeks) that exercised for 16 weeks. HIT was applied as “single-set-to-failure protocol,” while WB-EMS was conducted with intermittent stimulation (6 s WB-EMS, 4 s rest; 85 Hz, 350 ms) over 20 minutes. The main outcome parameters were lean body mass (LBM) as determined via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and maximum dynamic leg-extensor strength (isokinetic leg-press). LBM changes of both groups (HIT 1.25 ± 1.44% versus WB-EMS 0.93 ± 1.15%) were significant (p = .001); however, no significant group differences were detected (p = .395). Leg-extensor strength also increased in both groups (HIT 12.7 ± 14.7%, p = .002, versus WB-EMS 7.3 ± 10.3%, p = .012) with no significant (p = .215) between-group difference. Corresponding changes were also determined for body fat and back-extensor strength. Conclusion. In summary, WB-EMS can be considered as a time-efficient but pricy option to HIT-resistance exercise for people aiming at the improvement of general strength and body composition.

Effects of different exercise training programs on body composition: A randomized control trial

“…A number of studies have previously examined the role of whole‐body electromyostimulation training on body composition parameters, showing that this training modality induced a decrease of FM and an increase of LM in individuals with different ages and biological characteristics . Curiously, the exercise training methodology proposed in all of these studies was similar: (a) 10‐14 dynamic exercises (without any additional weights) structured in 1‐2 sets of 8 repetitions, (b) impulse frequency of 85 Hz, (c) impulse width of 350 µs, and (d) duty cycle of 50%.…”

“…To our knowledge, there is only one study comparing the effects of a high‐intensity interval training‐resistance program vs a whole‐body electromyostimulation training program . The main findings were that both of them were equally effective, attractive, feasible, and time‐efficient methods for combatting cardio‐metabolic risk factors (which included FM, but not LM) in untrained middle‐aged men .…”

“…A total of 21 studies have investigated its influence on physical fitness and health in trained and untrained individuals, and in patients who cannot perform conventional modalities of exercise because of physical or mental illness . Most of these studies (n = 10) have examined the role of whole‐body electromyostimulation training on body composition parameters, showing that this training modality induced a generally decrease of FM and a generally increase of LM in (a) sedentary older men and women with sarcopenic obesity (all of them aged > 70 years old), (b) in sedentary older women with obesity (aged > 70 years old), (c) in moderately trained male runners, (d) in sedentary healthy men (aged 30‐50 years old), and (e) in moderately trained healthy women (aged > 55 years old) . In addition, a study conducted in sedentary older women with osteopenia (aged > 70 years old) suggested that a 54‐week whole‐body electromyostimulation training program could be an option for maintaining BMD …”

Impact of whole body electromyostimulation on cardiometabolic risk factors in older women with sarcopenic obesity: the randomized controlled FORMOsA-sarcopenic obesity study

“…(b) One may argue that the statistical power of the study was too low to address the MetS, because our sample size calculation was based on the ASMM as the more critical endpoint with respect to an intervention that focuses on women with SO. However, a recent study addressed a high intensity training resistance training protocol, ie, an exercise method very close to a WB-EMS intervention,40 indicating that the sample size calculated for ASMM ( n =25 per group) was sufficient to address the MetS in parallel. However, we have to admit that the power to evaluate the presumably less prominent effect of additional (to WB-EMS) protein supplements on the MetS (and on ASMM) may have been indeed too low.…”

Impacto de dos modalidades de entrenamiento con electroestimulación global de cuerpo completo sobre la composición corporal en corredores recreacionales durante periodos de desentrenamiento deportivo. [Impact of two whole-body electromyostimulation training modalities on body composition in recreational runners during endurance training cessation].

“…El grupo WB-EMS-F y el grupo WB-EMS-NF muestran incrementos en relación a la MLG (3,89% y 1,12%) respecto al grupo control que mantiene constantes los valores del pre-test (-0,09%). Kemmler et al (2016) con un programa de intervención de la misma duración observó un incremento de 1,63% y de un 1,81% con un programa HIIT en el mismo periodo temporal (Kemmler & col., 2016). Así mismo, estudios de mayor duración (54 y 56 semanas) obtienen incrementos de 3,17% (Kemmler & von Stengel, 2013) y 3,54% (Kemmler & col., 2014).…”