EMS vs Safety and Results
Briefly, properly applied and guided WB-EMS application according to the present guidelines is a safe training technology predominately, but not only, for unfit and physically limited subjects with low time budgets. For sedentary middle aged to older people especially WB EMS represent a great way to improve health and health related outcomes such as body composition and physical fitness.
EMS vs HIIT
In summary, it was observed training EMS was comparable or at least similar in increasing muscle parameters to HIIT after 16 weeks of training. Thus, WB (whole body)-EMS can be considered as an attractive, time-efficient, and effective option to HIT resistance exercise for people seeking to improve general strength and body composition. Due to the close supervision of present WB-EMS applications, this exercise technology is much more expensive. However, taking into account the fact that WB-EMS technology will become more feasible and cost efficient over the next few years, the application of WB-EMS will be increasingly implemented in commercial and non commercial fitness settings.
EMS Training to Combat Type 2 Diabetes
EMS training to combat type 2 diabetes EMS can improve glucose metabolism and functional performance in type 2 diabetes patients. This data suggest that EMS might emerge as a novel additional therapeutic mode of exercise training and might help patients to overcome their sedentary lifestyle.
EMS Training and Metabolism
In this study, twelve weeks of electromyostimulation plus HIIT appeared to increase the metabolism of middle aged sedentary adults both in rest and during exercise. These findings have important clinical implications; a well-designed high-intensity interval training program plus whole-body electromyostimulation might be followed to help combat the appearance of chronic metabolic diseases characterized by metabolic inflexibility in middle-aged sedentary adults.
Metabolic rate in sedentary adults, following different exercise training interventions: The FIT- AGEING randomized controlled trial – Clinical Nutrition (clinicalnutritionjournal.com)
These results suggest that the combination of WB-NMES and voluntary exercise can enhance the metabolic response to a level equivalent to high intensity exercise under the net physiological burden of low-middle intensity exercises.
Frontiers | Effect of the Combination of Whole-Body Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation and Voluntary Exercise on Metabolic Responses in Human | Physiology (frontiersin.org)
EMS vs Obesity
In this study, WB-EMS was been recognized as an efficient exercise technology able to significantly affect muscle and fat mass and thus improve sarcopenia and (sarcopenic) obesity in older people.
Whole-Body EMS to Fight Sarcopenic Obesity – a Review with Emphasis on Body Fat
EMS and Elite Athletes
A 12-week EMS training program demonstrated beneficial effects on muscle strength and power in elite rugby players on particular tests.
The National Strength and Conditioning Association conducted a study to evaluate and quantify the effects of EMS on the cardio respiratory system, muscle metabolism and perceived exertion on cyclists.The testing evaluated cycling with EMS vs. cycling without EMS.The main findings indicated that cycling with EMS could enhance aerobic performance in athletes as well as individuals who are unable to sustain heavy workout.
EMS and Weight Loss
This study suggested EMS may be used to serve as an additional intervention for weight loss programs.
EMS and Pain Reduction
In conclusion, this study showed that WB EMS is a time effective training method for reducing chronic non specific lower back pain and increasing maximum trunk strength in people with such complaints.
EMS and Strength
In this study, it was proven that EMS offers a promising alternative to traditional strength training for enhancing different strength parameters and motor abilities.
Here we see that a 10 weeks whole-body electrostimulation training with a stimulation frequency of 85 Hz in contrast to training with a stimulation frequency of 20 Hz improves the trunk muscle strength of an untrained.
Frontiers | The Impact of Whole-Body Electromyostimulation on Body Posture and Trunk Muscle Strength in Untrained Persons | Physiology (frontiersin.org)
EMS and the Elderly
In conclusion of this study, it appears essential to create alternative or optional training technologies for the increasing number of elderly subjects unable or unwilling to exercise conventionally. The findings clearly demonstrate that a whole-body EMS programme performed for 18 min/session, 3 sessions in 14 days, is effective for increasing muscle mass and is also safe and feasible, at least in an elderly cohort at risk for sarcopenia. Therefore EMS technology is considered to be an appropriate option for elderly subjects looking to improve their body composition and muscular strength.