title: Chronic effects of superimposed electromyostimulation during cycling on aerobic and anaerobic capacity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine if chronic endurance training by means of simultaneously applied, superimposed electromyostimulation (EMS) can be used to improve performance and physiological core parameters compared to the traditional cycling.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one male subjects (VO2peak55.2 ± 5.1 ml min- 1kg- 1) were assigned to either a cycling (C) or cycling with superimposed EMS (C + E) group. Before and after the 4-week training period, including 14 sessions of moderate cycling [60 min at 60% peak power output (PPO)], participants performed a 20-min time-trial, a step test to exhaustion, a 30-s isokinetic sprint test, and maximum force- and power-tests. Markers of muscle damage and metabolic condition were assessed during the training period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Step test results revealed increases in PPO, VO2peak, lactate threshold 1, and the anaerobic threshold for both groups (p < 0.05). Mean power output (MPO) obtained from time-trial was improved in C and C + E (p < 0.05). Isokinetic sprint test revealed increased PPO in both groups, whereas MPO was only changed in C (p < 0.05). Strength parameters were unaffected. Although metabolic stimuli and markers of muscle damage were higher in C + E compared to C, improvements of endurance performance and capacity were not significantly different between C and C + E.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite a higher metabolic, respiratory, and muscular demand, chronic additional superimposed EMS during cycling does not result in superior improvements in endurance and strength performance compared to the traditional cycling.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Training Science and Sport Informatics, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Muengersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany.|The German Research Centre of Elite Sport, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Muengersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mathes
authors.affiliation: Institute of Training Science and Sport Informatics, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Muengersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Niklas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lehnen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Training Science and Sport Informatics, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Muengersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany.|The German Research Centre of Elite Sport, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Muengersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Link
authors.affiliation: The German Research Centre of Elite Sport, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Muengersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany.|Department of Molecular and Cellular Sport Medicine, Institute of Cardiovascular Research and Sport Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Muengersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Wilhelm
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bloch
authors.affiliation: Institute of Training Science and Sport Informatics, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Muengersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany.|The German Research Centre of Elite Sport, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Muengersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mester
authors.affiliation: Institute of Training Science and Sport Informatics, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Muengersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany. Wahl@dshs-koeln.de.|The German Research Centre of Elite Sport, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Muengersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany. Wahl@dshs-koeln.de.|Department of Molecular and Cellular Sport Medicine, Institute of Cardiovascular Research and Sport Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Muengersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany. Wahl@dshs-koeln.de.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wahl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D015444:Exercise; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Creatine kinase; EMS; High-intensity training; NMES; Neuromuscular electrical stimulation; Skeletal muscle damage