Running with whole-body electromyostimulation improves physiological determinants of endurance performance - a randomized control trial

Anne Krause; Nicolas Walser; Christoph Centner; Daniel Memmert; Ivo da Mota de Moreia; Ramona Ritzmann

doi:10.1186/s13102-023-00739-8

Running with whole-body electromyostimulation improves physiological determinants of endurance performance - a randomized control trial

BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2023 Oct 4;15(1):126. doi: 10.1186/s13102-023-00739-8.

Authors

Anne Krause^#¹, Nicolas Walser^#², Christoph Centner^{2

3}, Daniel Memmert¹, Ivo da Mota de Moreia¹, Ramona Ritzmann⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Training and Computer Science, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
² Praxisklinik Rennbahn, Muttenz, Switzerland.
³ Institute of Sport and Science, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
⁴ Institute of Sport and Science, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. ramona.ritzmann@sport.uni-freiburg.de.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the physiological and metabolic adaptations to an eight-week running intervention with whole-body electromyostimulation (wbEMS) compared to running without wbEMS.

Methods: In a randomized controlled trial (RCT), 59 healthy participants (32 female/ 27 male, 41 ± 7 years, rel.V̇O_2max 40.2 ± 7.4 ml/min/kg) ran twice weekly à 20 min for eight weeks either with a wbEMS suit (EG) or without wbEMS (control group, CG). Before and after the intervention, (i) rel.V̇O_2max, heart rate and time to exhaustion were recorded with an incremental step test with an incremental rate of 1.20 km/h every 3 min. They were interpreted at aerobic and (indirect) anaerobic lactate thresholds as well as at maximum performance. (ii) Resting metabolic rate (RQ) as well as (iii) body composition (%fat) were assessed.

Results: Following the intervention, V̇O_2max was significantly enhanced for both groups (EG ∆13 ± 3%, CG ∆9 ± 3%). Velocity was elevated at lactate thresholds and maximum running speed (EG ∆3 ± 1%, CG ∆2 ± 1%); HR_max was slightly reduced by -1 beat/min. No significant changes were observed for time until exhaustion and lactate. RQ was significantly enhanced following both trainings by + 7%. %fat was reduced for both groups (EG ∆-11 ± 3%, CG ∆-16 ± 5%), without any changes in body mass. Results did not differ significantly between groups.

Conclusions: Both interventions had a positive impact on aerobic power. The rightward shift of the time-velocity graph points towards improved endurance performance. The effects of wbEMS are comparable to those after high-intensity training and might offer a time-efficient alternative to affect physiological and metabolic effects.

Trial registration: German Clinical Trials Register, ID DRKS00026827, date 10/26/21.

Keywords: Aerobic power; Body composition; Endurance; High-intensity training; Lactate; Metabolic demand.