The Research

As an EMS trainer you are expected to be an expert in EMS technology. If you get asked a question you don’t know we suggest you find the answer. Below are a few common Science studies that have been completed on EMS over the last few years.

EMS Research | EMS as a full body training programme

Based on research conducted by VATTER, J, Universität Bayreuth, 2003; Publication AVM-Verlag München 2010.

Objective

The objective of this EMS research field study was to assess if positive impact on body strength, anthropometry, body wellness, mood, overall health conditions and back pain can be reached through electrical muscle stimulus training.

Methodology

134 people (102 female and 32 male) at an average age of 42,5 years volunteered to participate in the EMS research study, which was carried out in four different fitness centres. Questionnaires that the participants filled out before and after the 6-week training were assessed; their results were compared to those of a control group (10 people) and were assessed by age and sex.

Maximal body strength, endurance, body weight, body fat percentage, body circumference, frequency and intensity of back pain, and urinary incontinence, overall health condition, mood, vitality, body stability and body shape all were assessed. Participants trained 45 minutes, 2x per week for a total of 12 sessions. They began with a 10 to 15 minute long familiarisation phase to adjust for the individual’s pulse intensity, followed by a 25-minute long training session, during which different static exercise positions were taken up by the participants. There was a five minute long relaxation period at the end of the training session.

Results

82% of the participants noticed a relief in back pain, 30% of those were free of pain. At the beginning of the training, 40% of them had complained about chronic pain. The maximum body strength of the participants increased by 12% and their endurance by 69%. There were no notable changes in the control group.

The participants’ body weight and body mass index (BMI) stayed more or less the same. However, the body fat percentage decreased by 1,4% in the training group.

Younger participants lost more weight than older ones. There were no notable differences according to sex or weight.

In all female participants, size was significant reduced, on average by -0,7cm at the bust, -0,7cm at the thighs, -1,4cm at the waistline and -1,1cm at hips. The men had an average reduction in the waistline by -1,1cm; the size of the upper arm was increased by an average of +1,5cm, the size of the chest by an average of +1,2cm and the size of the thighs by an average of 0,3cm.

There were no noticeable positive changes in the control group. There was an improvement in the feeling of wellness by 83% of the people and participant’s muscles felt less tight. 89% of the test group had improved body stability and performance; 84% felt an increase in general fitness. 87% of the test group noticed a positive change in their overall physique.

A higher training intensity resulted in greater improvement, especially in people with physical problems. However, a more intense training also deepened muscle soreness.

Conclusion

The full body EMS training is a good method to reduce widespread back pain, yet also increases the body strength and is equal to, or better than, results from conventional strength training. Improvements to body shape and overall mood were appealing to men and women of all age groups alike.

In conclusion, the study supports full body EMS training as an effective training method, which will benefit a broad range of target groups.

EMS Research | EMS training to relieve back pain

Study 1:

Based on EMS research done by W.-U. Boeckh-Behrens, N. Grützmacher and J. Sebelefsky (University of Bayreuth, 2002).

The progression of social and professional lifestyles in the 21st century has contributed to a rising number of people living with chronic back pain. In the search for an effective intervention and prevention method, electro muscle stimulation (EMS) training has received increasing attention in sports and medical applications. EMS training has its roots in the medical field and was initially used to help patients in their recovery from injuries or to help with the reduction of pain-related symptoms. In the 2000s interest in researching the wider benefits of EMS increased due to significant EMS research discoveries, such as the 2002 EMS research study done by Boeckh-Behrens and colleagues at the University of Bayreuth in Germany.

Research description and outcome

The researchers aimed to identify the effects of complex EMS training on back pain and a total of 49 people (31 women and 18 men with an average age of 47 years), who were suffering from back pain participated in this study. The 49 participants performed EMS training sessions over a period of 5 weeks and were assessed before as well as after the EMS training.

The research results highlighted the following:

A decrease in back pain was observed in 88.7% of participants
Frequency and the intensity of back pain significantly decreased within the training period
75.5% showed improvements in mood and 69.4% noticed an increased vitality
85.7% of the women reported increased body stability and 75.5% felt more relaxed after training

Conclusion

The EMS research findings showed Whole-Body EMS training counters back pain in a very effective way.

The researchers concluded that electrical stimulus activates the major muscle groups and also, more importantly, the deeper muscle groups which are difficult to activate through conventional training methods. The research participants not only reported a reduction of back pain (88.7% of all participants) but also felt an improvement in their mood, vitality and well-being.

Therefore EMS training, as offered by BODYTEC, is proven to be a time saving and effective way to improve overall health.

Study 2:

Based on EMS research done by Weissenfels and colleagues in 2018.

Non-specific lower back pain is a common complaint affecting males and females across all age ranges. Physical exercise has generally been advocated to improve non-specific lower back pain; however, many people cite lack of time or fear of causing more pain and damage.

The following research completed by Weissenfels and colleagues in 2018 determined whether 1 x 20-minute Whole-Body EMS (WB-EMS) session per week can improve symptoms of chronic lower back pain compared to non-training.

Research description and outcome

The primary aim of the research was to determine if 12 weeks of WB-EMS training will reduce lower back pain and frequency and increase core strength.

Thirty participants (age: 40 -70 years) who experience chronic lower back pain agreed to participate in the study. Half of the participants were assigned to the WB-EMS group where they completed 1 x 20 minute EMS session per week for 12 weeks, while the other half were assigned to the control group (CG) where no physical activity was completed and they were instructed to maintain their lifestyle.

The research results highlighted the following:

Pain intensity decreased significantly in the WB-EMS group with no change observed in the CG.
Frequency of lower back pain decreased significantly in the WB-EMS group compared to the CG.
The strength of the trunk extensor (lower back) muscles increased significantly by 15% ± 19% while no change was observed in the CG.

Conclusion

Whole-Body EMS training was found to be a timesaving, low impact, effective training method for reducing non-specific lower back pain compared to no training. WB-EMS also improved the strength of the core muscles which aids in preventing future lower back issues and injuries.

EMS Research | EMS training in professional sports

Based on EMS research done by Andre Filipovic and Dr Heinz Kleinoeder (2013)

The origins of electro muscle stimulation (EMS) training trace back to the field of medical science and applied rehabilitation. In recent years an increasing number of research publications highlighted the benefits of this type of training for professional and recreational athletes. A systematic review of sport science research by the German Sport University Cologne in 2011 established that EMS training is a promising alternative to conventional strength training. Apart from enhancing strength parameters and motor abilities, the time efficiency factor is an added advantage in professional sports. Since the introduction of whole body EMS training devices, as used at BODYTEC, research shows significant improvement of training in maximum strength, speed, jumping and running performance.

Research description and outcome

The EMS research by Filipovic and Kleinoeder focused on the benefit EMS training could have for professional soccer players. 22 professional soccer players from a German soccer team participated in EMS training over a period of 14 weeks and were tested 4 times during the research period on the following areas:

Strength performance
Speed and sprint performance
Jumping performance
Kicking speed

The results of the EMS research revealed that the players who incorporated EMS training into their workouts improved significantly in all tested areas. The evaluation of the individual tests showed:

(Maximum) strength performance increased on average by 30.07 %
Jumping performance increased on average by 9.14 %
Speed and sprint performance increased on average by 19.38 %
Kicking speed increased on average by 16.3 %

Results and conclusion

All in all, the results of Filipovic and Kleinoeder's EMS research highlights the effectiveness of EMS training and also supports other research done on athletes in different sport disciplines. The authors concluded that whole body EMS training is an effective and more time efficient alternative to conventional strength training in high performance and professional sport.

EMS Research | EMS training for cardiac patients

Based on Will EMS training become important for secondary prevention? by FRITZSCHE, D. / FRUEND, A. / SCHENK, S. / MELLWIG, K.-P. / KLEINÖDER, H. / GUMMERT, J. / HORSTKOTTE, D., Cardiology Clinic Bad Oeynhausen, Herz 2010; 35 (1): 34–40

Objective

The idea that moderate endurance training improves chronic cardiac insufficiency (CHI) as a secondary prevention has been sufficiently validated. But in reality, experience has shown that only few well-instructed, highly motivated and mostly younger patients are prepared to commit to a constant supplementary therapy. The experiences with full body electromyostimulation (EMS) used in cardiac patients show a great and unexpected potential regarding the regeneration of neurohumoral, inflammatory and skeletal muscle related symptoms within the framework of the systemic disease CHI.

Methodology

15 patients diagnosed with CHI completed a 6-month EMS training programme using Miha bodytec machines. The amplitude was chosen by the patients according to their subjective sensation of muscle contraction/pulse sensation at level 8 on a ten-step scale. Before and after the 3 and 6 months of training, the cardiac performance was assessed by means of spiroergometry, electrocardiography (EKG) and echocardiogram. Furthermore, the metabolic status including creatine kinase (CK) and laktatedehydrogenase (LDH) and the patient’s weight and body fat distribution was determined (impedance scale).

Results

An increase of up to 96% in oxygen uptake at the individual’s anaerobic threshold could be proven. The diastolic blood pressure lowered significantly; muscle mass increased up to 14% while the body weight remained constant. The patients all stated that they felt a profound increase in performance capacity.

Conclusion

The study shows for the first time the effect of EMS-training on cardiac insufficiency patients. The improvements on objective performance, optimisation of muscles strength, physiology and metabolic rates exceeded the results of conventional aerobic training methods within the scope of primary and secondary cardiac rehabilitation in CHI patients by far. In conclusion, EMS training has a high potential for therapy of chronic cardiac insufficiency.

EMS Research | EMS training as an alternative form of training for older adults

Based on EMS research done by Wolfgang Kemmler and Simon von Stengel (2010 – 2012)

It is generally known and extensively researched that the most effective way to fight the natural and age-related decline of muscle mass and function is a physically active lifestyle, and most importantly, participation in regular exercise. However, due to physical limitations, lack of time or lack of motivation, a large number of elderly participants are either unable or unwilling to perform (intense) corresponding resistance training.

Research description and outcome

In most of their research on EMS training, Kemmler and von Stengel assessed the effects of whole-body EMS training on strength parameters and body composition/muscle mass in older adult subjects. Thirty postmenopausal females (average age 65, ± 5 years), participants of a year-long study in high-intensity resistance training, performed 20-minute EMS training sessions for a period of 14 weeks. Significant positive effects were observed:

Body fat reduced
Strength increased
Power increased

Adding validity to their findings from their study done with postmenopausal females, the researchers did another study, testing even more parameters. For the second study, 28 untrained males (65-75 years old) were tested on their physical capacity and changes in body composition before and after EMS training. After 14 weeks of EMS training, the test results for the 28 males also showed significant positive effects:

Muscle mass increased
Body fat reduced
Waist circumference reduced
Strength increased
Power increased
Aerobic capacity increased

The results of this research indicate the effectiveness of EMS training for people 60 years and older and offer an attractive alternative method of training. Being able to perform risk-free strength training beyond age-related barriers, EMS training proved to be effective for females and males respectively. Both study groups showed improvements in body composition (body fat, muscle mass, waist circumference), as well as in physical capacity (strength, power and aerobic capacity).

Conclusion

The study results show EMS training can be used by most age groups and can help people improve their body composition as well as their physical capacity. In conclusion of their findings, the researchers stated the following: “… to our best knowledge, we are not aware of conventional exercise studies that reported comparably favourable changes of body fat and free fat mass. The results are remarkable especially considering the short duration…”

W. Kemmler & S. von Stengel (Institute of Medical Physics, Friedrich-Alexander University)

EMS Research | The effects of EMS training in comparison to other strength training methods

Based on research done by J. Mester, S. Nowak, J. Schmithuesen, H. Kleinoeder and U. Speicher (2008/2009)

The introduction of technology-enhanced training methods, such as electro muscle stimulation (EMS) as a new and more time efficient option for general and whole body strength training, has generated a great deal of research to validate the effects of such training on the human body. The research results across different age, training and population groups has shown positive results and the general assumption by sport and medical scientists is that EMS training is an effective and suitable alternative to conventional strength training. A question that often comes up with regard to the impact and effect of whole body EMS training is: how does this technology-enhanced training work in comparison to other strength training methods? In order to move towards an answer, a team of researchers from the German Sport University Cologne divided a group of students into different training groups under highly controlled training conditions for performance outcome tests.

Training

No. of group participants

Muscle Growth: 10

Maximum Strength : 11

EMS : 9

EMS + Muscle Growth : 10

Speed Strength : 10

Strength Endurance : 11

Vibration : 9

Vibration + Muscle Growth : 10

Research description and outcome

The research by Mester and colleagues aimed to compare different types of strength training by testing and analysing classical and modern strength parameters. A total of 80 research participants (all sport science students) were divided into 8 different training groups and trained twice a week over a period of 4 weeks. All participants were tested 3 times – (1) a pre-test before the first training, (2) a post-test directly after the study period and (3) a re-test 2 weeks after the end of the study period.

Test results showed that EMS training increased maximum strength of the tested muscle groups (on average by +9%) and significantly improved the maximum power output (on average by +29%) of participants (as shown in table). This is highly relevant for sport performance, as well as the everyday requirements of our muscular system. Most notably, it was found that EMS training was the only training method that succeeded in improving the speed factor within overall performance. Another interesting finding was the EMS training group was the only group to show improvements after the conclusion of the 4-week training intervention, which indicated EMS training requires a longer recovery period as the training effects have a delayed onset.

Conclusion

A range of different strength parameters were tested in this EMS research project and some of the most interesting and significant results were found for maximum strength and maximum power outputs. Compared to the other training methods that were tested in this research, the EMS training accounted for similar and even better test results than traditional strength training methods. The authors also found EMS training to be more intense than classical strength training and thus requires longer recovery periods.