Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea | [b] Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Laboratory of Kinetic Ergocise Based on Movement Analysis, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Oh-Yun Kwon, Laboratory of Kinetic Ergocise based on Movement Analysis, Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School, Yonsei University, 234 Maeji-ri, Heungeop-Myeon, Wonju, Kangwon-Do, 220-710, Korea. E-mail: kwonoy@yonsei.ac.kr.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) has been applied in many rehabilitation settings for muscle strengthening, facilitation of muscle contraction, re-education of muscle action, and maintenance of muscle strength and size during prolonged immobilization. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate effect of 8 weeks of EMS training on abdominal muscle function and to determine whether the training effect could be maintained after 4 weeks of EMS detraining. METHODS: Twenty-five subjects performed EMS training for 8 weeks. Before and after 8 weeks of EMS training, and after 4 weeks of EMS detraining, muscle size (cross-sectional area [CSA] of the rectus abdominals [RA] and lateral abdominal wall [LAW]), strength, endurance, and lumbopelvic control (LC) were measured. RESULTS: There were significant increases in CSA [RA (p< 0.001); LAW (p< 0.001)], strength [trunk flexor (p= 0.005); side-bridge (p< 0.05)], endurance [trunk flexor (p= 0.010); side-bridge (p< 0.05)], and LC (p< 0.05) after 8 weeks of EMS training. The CSA of the RA (p< 0.05) and the LAW (p< 0.001) were measured after 4 weeks of detraining and they were greater than that of the baseline. There were no significant differences in abdominal strength, endurance, and LC between baseline measurements and post-detraining. CONCLUSION: The study indicates that there is less of a detraining effect on muscle size than on muscle strength, endurance, and LC.
