The effect of high-impulse- electromyostimulation on adipokine profiles, body composition and strength: A pilot study
Authors: Jee Yong-Seok 
Published: June 2019

BACKGROUND : Although whole body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) has been shown to improve body composition and muscle strength in several research studies, it has not been confirmed whether a dose-response effect using various impulse-intensities exists and how they affect adipose tissue-derived adipokines (APK), body composition, and strength. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the dose-response effect of wearing a WB-EMS suit in conjunction with isometric exercise on adipokines (APK), body composition including thigh circumference, and thigh muscle strength in normal healthy men for 6 weeks. METHOD: Fifty-two male subjects were randomly assigned to one of four groups: control group (CON, [Formula: see text] 13), low impulse-intensity (LII) group ([Formula: see text] 12), mid impulse-intensity (MII) group ([Formula: see text] 14), and high impulse-intensity (HII) group ([Formula: see text] 13). Low-, mid- and high-impulse intensities were set at 50%, 60% and 80% of maximum tolerance (1MT). Subjects in CON group wore WB-EMS suits, but did not receive any impulses. The WB-EMS suits used in this study enabled the simultaneous activation of eight muscle groups with selectable intensities. Stimulation frequency was selected at 85 Hz, impulse-width at 350 microsecond, and impulse-rise as a rectangular application. Impulse duration was 6 s with a 4 s break between impulses. The 20-minute WB-EMS sessions were combined with isometric exercises 3 times a week for 6 weeks. APK, body composition including thigh circumference, and isokinetic peak moment (PT) and work per repetition (WR) of the knee extensors and flexors were measured on Week 0, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6. RESULTS: Compared with the CON group, 1) there was a significant group by time interaction difference in Resistin ([Formula: see text] 0.016). That is, Resistin increased in the CON and LII groups, but decreased in the MII and HII groups. These changes in Resistin for both groups began to appear at Week 4. 2) Body weight ([Formula: see text] 0.024) and muscle mass ([Formula: see text] 0.037) were significantly different in group by time interaction. The decrease of body weight in the HII group began to appear at Week 4. In particular, the level of muscle mass increased only in the HII group at Week 6. 3) There were significant group by time interaction differences in the circumferences of thigh subcutaneous fat (TSF) and thigh total fat (TTF) on right and left sides. The right TSF ([Formula: see text] 0.045) and TTF ([Formula: see text]0.019) decreased from baseline to Week 6 in the HII group. These changes were similar to the left TSF ([Formula: see text] 0.038) and TTF ([Formula: see text] 0.011). The changes in the HII group showed a marked decrease at Week 6. 4) There were significant group by time interaction effects in the PT of the left knee extensor ([Formula: see text] 0.037) and PT of the right knee flexor ([Formula: see text] 0.012). These results were similar with the WR of the right knee flexor ([Formula: see text] 0.002) and the WR of the left knee flexor ([Formula: see text] 0.019) in the HII group, which were significantly higher than those of the other three groups at Week 4 and 6. CONCLUSIONS: WB-EMS administered at high impulse intensity can improve Resistin, body composition including thigh circumference, and isokinetic strength in healthy men after approximately 4 to 6 weeks.