title: Effects of electrical muscle stimulation on oxygen consumption.
abstract: Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) devices are being marketed as weight/ fat loss devices throughout the world. Commercially available stimulators have the ability to evoke muscle contractions that may affect caloric expenditure while the device is being used. The aim of this study was to test the effects of two different EMS devices (Abtronic and Feminique) on oxygen consumption at rest. Subjects arrived for testing after an overnight fast, had the devices fitted, and then positioned supine with expired air measured to determine oxygen consumption. After a 10-minute acclimation period, oxygen consumption was measured for 20 minutes with the device switched off (resting) then 20 minutes with the device switched on (stimulated). There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in oxygen consumption between the resting and stimulated periods with either the Abtronic (mean +/- SD; resting, 3.40 +/- 0.44; stimulated, 3.45 +/- 0.53 ml of O(2).kg(-1).min(-1)) or the Feminique (resting, 3.73 +/- 0.45; stimulated, 3.75 +/- 0.46 ml of O(2).kg(-1).min(-1)). In summary, the EMS devices tested had no effect on oxygen consumption during muscle stimulation.
authors.affiliation: School of Human Movement Studies, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Tina L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Hayter
authors.forename: Jeff S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Coombes
authors.forename: Wade L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Knez
authors.forename: Tania L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Brancato
mesh_terms: D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology*; D016683:Supine Position / Q000502:physiology