Affiliations: [a] Performance and Sport Rehabilitation Laboratory, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Toledo, Spain | [b] Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Comillas Pontifical University, Madrid, Spain
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Javier Abián-Vicén, Performance and Sport Rehabilitation Laboratory, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. Carlos III s/n. Toledo, 4507, Spain. Tel.: +34 925268800 Ext. 5522; Fax: +34 902204130; E-mail: javier.abian@uclm.es.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) is a new tendency in training used to complement conventional training. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to analyze the effects of training with WB-EMS on body composition, strength and balance in middle-aged women. METHODS: Twenty-eight women were randomly assigned to two groups: the WB-EMS group (age = 48.1 ± 4.3 years) or the control group (CG) (age = 51.1 ± 5.4 years). All participants continued their training of 2 days⋅week-1 and 60 min⋅day-1 of endurance-dynamic strength exercises and additionally did 20 minutes more of dynamic strength exercises one day⋅week-1: the WB-EMS group did the additional training with WB-EMS and the CG did the same training but without WB-EMS. Body composition, muscle isokinetic strength of the knee flexors/extensors and postural stability were measured before and after 8 weeks of training. RESULTS: After the training program, the WB-EMS group showed lower values for the waist circumference (83.00 ± 7.37 vs. 78.50 ± 7.30 cm; p< 0.01), hip circumference (104.80 ± 8.61 vs. 101.00 ± 6.78 cm; p< 0.05) and total fat mass (37.04 ± 6.08 vs. 36.26 ± 5.78%; p< 0.05). In balance stability the WB-EMS group reduced their Fall Risk Index (1.70 ± 0.51 vs. 1.30 ± 0.38 AU; p< 0.01) and deviation (1.50 ± 0.43 vs. 1.03 ± 0.74 AU; p< 0.01) after training and showed lower values in the Fall Risk Index (p= 0.007) and deviation (p= 0.024). CONCLUSIONS: The WB-EMS training program helps reduce the risk of falling and improves body composition variables and balance results in middle-aged physically active women.
Keywords: Exercise, electromyostimulation, WB-EMS, body composition, balance, strength
