title: Effect of Superimposed Electromyostimulation on Back Extensor Strengthening: A Pilot Study.
abstract: Park, JH, Seo, KS, and Lee, S-U. Effect of superimposed electromyostimulation on back extensor strengthening: a pilot study. J Strength Cond Res 30(9): 2470-2475, 2016-Electromyostimulation (EMS) superimposed on voluntary contraction (VC) can increase muscle strength. However, no study has examined the effect of superimposing EMS on back extensor strengthening. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of superimposed EMS on back extensor strengthening in healthy adults. Twenty healthy men, 20-29 years of age, without low-back pain were recruited. In the EMS group, electrodes were attached to bilateral L2 and L4 paraspinal muscles. Stimulation intensity was set for maximally tolerable intensity. With VC, EMS was superimposed for 10 seconds followed by a 20-second rest period. The same protocol was used in the sham stimulation (SS) group, except that the stimulation intensity was set at the lowest intensity (5 mA). All subjects performed back extension exercise using a Swiss ball, with 10 repetitions per set, 2 sets each day, 5 times a week for 2 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the change in isokinetic strength of the back extensor using an isokinetic dynamometer. Additionally, endurance was measured using the Sorensen test. After 2 weeks of back extension exercise, the peak torque and endurance increased significantly in both groups (p ≤ 0.05). Effect size between the EMS group and the SS group was medium in strength and endurance. However, there was no statistically significant difference between 2 groups. In conclusion, 2 weeks of back extensor strengthening exercise was effective for strength and endurance. Superimposing EMS on back extensor strengthening exercise could provide an additional effect on increasing strength.
authors: 1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea; 2Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea; and 3Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Jae Hyeon
authors: JH
authors: Park
authors: Kwan Sik
authors: KS
authors: Seo
authors: Shi-Uk
authors: SU
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D004576:Electromyography; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D064170:Paraspinal Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011897:Random Allocation; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D055815:Young Adult