Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Impact of whole-body electromyostimulation on body composition in elderly women at risk for sarcopenia: the Training and ElectroStimulation Trial (TEST-III)

  • Published:
AGE Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Most studies have confirmed the positive impact of resistance training on muscle mass and functional capacity in aging adults. However, due to physical limitation or a simple aversion against regular exercise, the majority of elderly subjects do not reach the exercise doses recommended for impacting strength or muscle mass. This led us to evaluate the effect of whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS), a novel, time-efficient and smooth training technology, on body composition with special regard to sarcopenia. Seventy-six lean, non-sportive women (75 ± 4 years) were randomly assigned to either a WB-EMS group (WB-EMS, n = 38) that performed 18 min of WB-EMS (bipolar, 85 Hz) 3 sessions in 14 days (1.5 sessions/week) or a semi-active control group (aCG, n = 38). Body composition was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and maximum strength was evaluated using isometric techniques for trunk and legs. After 54 weeks of intervention, significant inter-group differences were determined for appendicular skeletal muscle mass (WB-EMS, 0.4 ± 2.2 % vs. aCG, −1.5 ± 3.1 %; p = 0.009), lean body mass (WB-EMS, 0.8 ± 1.8 % vs. aCG, −0.8 ± 2.7 %; p = 0.008) and maximum isometric strength (leg extensors, 9.8 ± 12.9 % vs. 0.2 ± 10.4 %; p = 0.003; trunk extensors, 10.1 ± 12.7 vs. −1.6 ± 8.6 %; p = 0.001). Although borderline significant for abdominal fat mass (WB-EMS, −2.9 ± 8.3 vs. aCG, 1.5 ± 10.7 %; p = 0.069), differences did not reach statistically significant levels for body fat parameters. Considering the clinical effectiveness for impacting sarcopenia and the good acceptance of this technology by this non-sportive cohort of elderly women, we conclude that for elderly subjects unable or unwilling to perform dynamic strength exercises, electromyostimulation may be a less off-putting alternative to maintain lean body mass and strength.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. In this article, we focus on sarcopenia and body composition, however.

  2. Indeed, as assessed (Kemmler et al. 2010b), these slight movements as performed without WB-EMS application did not affect strength or power in a cohort of post-menopausal women 65 years old.

  3. …that were however slightly younger (Age, 65 ± 5 years), less lean (BMI, 26 ± 4 kg/m2) and much more sportive

References

  • Ades PA (2001) Cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease. N Engl J Med 345:892–902

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • AHHS (2008) Physical activity guidelines for Americans. Okla Nurse 53:25

    Google Scholar 

  • Alberti KG, Zimmet P, Shaw J (2006) Metabolic syndrome—a new world-wide definition. A Consensus Statement from the International Diabetes Federation. Diabet Med 23:469–480

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Arango-Lopera, V. E., Arroyo, P., Gutiérrez-Robledo L.M., & M.U., P.-Z. (2012). Prevalence of sarcopenia in Mexico City. European Geriatric Medicine, 3:157–160

  • Bauer JM, Sieber CC (2008) Sarcopenia and frailty: a clinician's controversial point of view. Exp Gerontol 43:674–678

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baumgartner RN, Koehler KM, Gallagher D, Romero L, Heymsfield SB, Ross RR, Garry PJ, Lindeman RD (1998) Epidemiology of sarcopenia among the elderly in New Mexico. Am J Epidemiol 147:755–763

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Benecke A, Vogel H (2003) Übergewicht und Adipositas Gesundheitsberichterstattung des Bundes. Robert-Koch-Institut, Berlin, pp 3–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Binder EF, Yarasheski KE, Steger-May K, Sinacore DR, Brown M, Schechtman KB, Holloszy JO (2005) Effects of progressive resistance training on body composition in frail older adults: results of a randomized, controlled trial. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 60:1425–1431

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Borg G (1970) Perceived exertion as an indicator of somatic stress. Scand J Rehabil Med 2:92–98

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Börjesson M, Hellenius ML, Jansson E, Karlson J, Leijon M, Staehle A, Taube T (2010) Physical activity in the prevention and treatment of disease. Professional Association for Physical Activity, Stockholm

    Google Scholar 

  • Chodzko-Zajko WJ, Proctor DN, Fiatarone Singh MA, Minson CT, Nigg CR, Salem GJ, Skinner JS (2009) American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Exercise and physical activity for older adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc 41:1510–1530

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Clark DO (1999) Physical activity and its correlates among urban primary care patients aged 55 years or older. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 54:S41–S48

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen J (1988) Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences, 2nd edn. Lawrence Earlbaum Associate, Hillsdale, NJ

    Google Scholar 

  • Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Baeyens JP, Bauer JM, Boirie Y, Cederholm T, Landi F, Zamboni M (2010) Sarcopenia: European consensus on definition and diagnosis: report of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People. Age Ageing 39:412–423

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • DESTATIS. (2012). Verteilung der Bevölkerung auf Body-Mass-Index-Gruppen in Prozent. Mikrozensus - Fragen zur Gesundheit. Retrieved 30 June 2012

  • Fielding RA, Vellas B, Evans WJ, Bhasin S, Morley JE, Newman AB, Zamboni M (2011) Sarcopenia: an undiagnosed condition in older adults. Current consensus definition: prevalence, etiology, and consequences. International working group on sarcopenia. J Am Med Dir Assoc 12:249–256

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gill TM, Williams CS, Tinetti ME (1995) Assessing risk for the onset of functional dependance among older adults: the role of physical performance. J Am Geriatr Soc 43:603–609

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kemmler W, Birlauf A, von Stengel S (2010a) Einfluss von Ganzkörper-Elektromyostimulation auf das Metabolische Syndrom bei älteren Männern mit metabolischem Syndrom. Dtsch Z Sportmed 61:117–123

    Google Scholar 

  • Kemmler W, Lauber D, Weineck J, Hensen J, Kalender W, Engelke K (2004a) Benefits of 2 years of intense exercise on bone density, physical fitness, and blood lipids in early postmenopausal osteopenic women: results of the Erlangen Fitness Osteoporosis Prevention Study (EFOPS). Arch Intern Med 164:1084–1091

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kemmler, W., S, V. S., Mayer, S., Niedermayer, M., Hentschke, C., & Kalender, W. A. (2009). Effect of whole body vibration on the neuromuscular performance of females 65 years and older: one-year results of the controlled randomized ELVIS study. Z Gerontol Geriatr 43: 125–132 (Article in German)

  • Kemmler W, Schliffka R, Mayhew JL, von Stengel S (2010b) Effects of whole-body-electromyostimulation on resting metabolic rate, anthropometric and neuromuscular parameters in the elderly. The Training and ElectroStimulation Trial (TEST). J Strength Cond Res 24:1880–1886

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kemmler W, von Stengel S, Engelke K, Haberle L, Mayhew JL, Kalender WA (2010c) Exercise, body composition, and functional ability: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Prev Med 38:279–287

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kemmler W, Von Stengel S, Schwarz J, Mayhew JL (2012) Effect of whole-body electromyostimulation on energy expenditure during exercise. J Strength Cond Res 26:240–245

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kemmler W, Weineck J, Kalender WA, Engelke K (2004b) The effect of habitual physical activity, non-athletic exercise, muscle strength, and VO2max on bone mineral density is rather low in early postmenopausal osteopenic women. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact 4:325–334

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kleist P (2009) Das Intention-to-Treat-Prinzip. Schweiz Med Forum 25:450–454

    Google Scholar 

  • Latham, N., Anderson, C., Bennett, D., & Stretton, C. (2003). Progressive resistance strength training for physical disability in older people. Cochrane Database Syst Rev:CD002759

  • Liebermeister H (1995) Prognosis in obesity, what has changed? Versicherungsmedizin 47:17–23

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marques EA, Mota J, Carvalho J (2011a) Exercise effects on bone mineral density in older adults: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Age 34:1493–1515

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marques EA, Mota J, Machado L, Sousa F, Coelho M, Moreira P, Carvalho J (2011b) Multicomponent training program with weight-bearing exercises elicits favorable bone density, muscle strength, and balance adaptations in older women. Calcif Tissue Int 88:117–129

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mathiowetz V, Weber K, Volland G, Kashman N (1984) Reliability and validity of grip and pinch strength evaluations. J Hand Surg [Am] 9:222–226

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morley JE (2008) Sarcopenia: diagnosis and treatment. J Nutr Health Aging 12:452–456

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morley JE (2012) Sarcopenia in the elderly. Fam Pract 29(Suppl 1):i44–i48

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morley JE, Baumgartner RN, Roubenoff R, Mayer J, Nair KS (2001) Sarcopenia. J Lab Clin Med 137:231–243

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson ME, Fiatarone MA, Layne JE, Trice I, Economos CD, Fielding RA, Evans WJ et al (1996) Analysis of body-composition techniques and models for detecting change in soft tissue with strength training. Am J Clin Nutr 63:678–686

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Patil R, Uusi-Rasi K, Pasanen M, Kannus P, Karinkanta S, Sievanen H (2013) Sarcopenia and osteopenia among 70–80-year-old home-dwelling Finnish women: prevalence and association with functional performance. Osteoporos Int 24:787–796

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pedersen BK, Saltin B (2006) Evidence for prescribing exercise as a therapy in chronic disease. Scand J Med Sci Sports 16:3–63

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Perera S, Mody SH, Woodman RC, Studenski SA (2006) Meaningful change and responsiveness in common physical performance measures in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 54:743–749

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson MD, Sen A, Gordon PM (2011) Influence of resistance exercise on lean body mass in aging adults: a meta-analysis. Med Sci Sports Exerc 43:249–258

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Statistisches-Bundesamt. (2006). Gesundheit in Deutschland Gesundheitsberichterstattung des Bundes. Berlin

  • Stenholm S, Harris TB, Rantanen T, Visser M, Kritchevsky SB, Ferrucci L (2008) Sarcopenic obesity: definition, cause and consequences. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 11:693–700

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tesch-Römer C (2007) Gesundheit im Alter: Schicksal, soziale Schicht oder Verhalten? In B. f. B. u. Forschung. Gesundheitsberichterstattung des Bundes, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Tusker F (1994) Bestimmung von Kraftparameter eingelenkiger Kraftmessungen. Shaker Verlag, Aachen

    Google Scholar 

  • Wall TB, Dirks ML, Verdijk LB, Snijders T, Hansen D, Vranckx P, van Loon LC et al (2012) Neuromuscular electrical stimulation increases muscle protein synthesis in elderly type 2 diabetic men. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 303:E614–E623

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weineck J (2009) Sportbiologie (vol, 10). Spitta, Balingen

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2000) Obesity: preventing and managing the global epidemic. WHO, Technical Report Series. Genf

    Google Scholar 

  • Zamboni M, Mazzali G, Fantin F, Rossi A, Di Francesco V (2008) Sarcopenic obesity: a new category of obesity in the elderly. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 18:388–395

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the support of miha bodytec (Augsburg, Germany), which supplied the WB-EMS technology, and Rottapharm/Madaus (Cologne, Germany), which supplied calcium and vitamin D.

Conflict of interest

None of the authors has any conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Medical Physics, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Henkestrasse 91, 91052, Erlangen, Germany

    Wolfgang Kemmler, Michael Bebenek, Klaus Engelke & Simon von Stengel

Authors
  1. Wolfgang Kemmler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michael Bebenek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Klaus Engelke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Simon von Stengel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wolfgang Kemmler.

About this article

Cite this article

Kemmler, W., Bebenek, M., Engelke, K. et al. Impact of whole-body electromyostimulation on body composition in elderly women at risk for sarcopenia: the Training and ElectroStimulation Trial (TEST-III). AGE 36, 395–406 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-013-9575-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-013-9575-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation