Effects of combined electromyostimulation and gymnastics training in prepubertal girls.
This study investigated the effects of a 6-week combined electromyostimulation (EMS) and gymnastic training program on muscle strength and vertical jump performance of prepubertal gymnasts. Sixteen young women gymnasts (age 12.4 ± 1.2 yrs) participated in this study, with 8 in the EMS group and the remaining 8 as controls. EMS was conducted on knee extensor muscles for 20 minutes 3 times a week during the first 3 weeks and once a week during the last 3 weeks. Gymnasts from both groups underwent similar gymnastics training 5-6 times a week. Isokinetic torque of the knee extensors was determined at different eccentric and concentric angular velocities ranging from -60 to +240° per second. Jumping ability was evaluated using squat jump (SJ), counter movement jump (CMJ), reactivity test, and 3 gymnastic-specific jumps. After the first 3 weeks of EMS, maximal voluntary torque was increased (+40.0 ± 10.0%, +35.3 ± 11.8%, and +50.6 ± 7.7% for -60, +60, and +240°s⁻¹, respectively; p < 0.05), as well as SJ, reactivity test and specific jump performances (+20.9 ± 8.3%, +20.4 ± 26.2% and +14.9 ± 17.2% respectively; p < 0.05). Six weeks of EMS were necessary to improve the CMJ (+10.1 ± 10.0%, p < 0.05). Improvements in jump ability were still maintained 1 month after the end of the EMS training program. To conclude, these results first demonstrate that in prepubertal gymnasts, a 6-week EMS program, combined with the daily gymnastic training, induced significant increases both in knee extensor muscle strength and nonspecific and some specific jump performances.
Performance Expertise Center Gilles Cometti, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Burgundy, Dijon, France. gaelle.deley@u-bourgogne.fr
Gaëlle
G
Deley
Carole
C
Cometti
Anaïs
A
Fatnassi
Christos
C
Paizis
Nicolas
N
Babault
D000293:Adolescent; D056352:Athletes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006173:Gymnastics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors