title: Prolonged electrical muscle stimulation exercise improves strength and aerobic capacity in healthy sedentary adults.
abstract: This investigation evaluated training responses to prolonged electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) in sedentary adults. Fifteen healthy subjects (10 men, 5 women) with a sedentary lifestyle completed a 6-wk training program during which they completed an average of 29 1-h EMS sessions. The form of EMS used by the subjects was capable of eliciting a cardiovascular exercise response without loading the limbs or joints. It achieved this by means of inducing rapid, rhythmical contractions in the large leg muscles. A crossover study design was employed with subjects undergoing their habitual activity levels during the nontraining phase of the study. The training effect was evaluated by means of a treadmill test to determine peak aerobic capacity [peak oxygen consumption (Vo(2))], a 6-min walking distance test, and measurement of body mass index (BMI) and quadriceps muscle strength. At baseline, the mean values for peak Vo(2), 6-min walking distance, quadriceps strength, and BMI were 2.46 +/- 0.57 l/min, 493.3 +/- 36.8 m, 360.8 +/- 108.7 N, and 26.9 +/- 3.4 kg/m(2), respectively. After training, subjects demonstrated statistically significant improvements in all variables except BMI. Peak Vo(2) increased by an average of 0.24 +/- 0.16 l/min (P < 0.05), walking distance increased by 36.6 +/- 19.7 m (P < 0.005), and quadriceps strength increased by 87.5 +/- 55.9 N (P < 0.005); we did not observe a significant effect due to training on BMI (P > 0.05). These results suggest that EMS can be used in sedentary adults to improve physical fitness. It may provide a viable alternative to more conventional forms of exercise in this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Academic Cardiology, University of Hull, Castle Hill Hospital, Cottingham, Kingston-upon-Hull, UK.
authors.forename: Prithwish
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Caulfield
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Crowe
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013997:Time Factors