Effects of Whole-Body Electromyostimulation versus High-Intensity Resistance Exercise on Body Composition and Strength: A Randomized Controlled Study

The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) with high-intensity resistance training (HIT), which is regarded as the gold standard for developing muscle mass and strength. Forty-eight healthy, untrained men aged 30-50 were enrolled and randomly allocated to a WB-EMS or HIT group, completing a 16-week programme. The main outcome measures were changes in muscle mass, body fat, lower limb strength and back muscle strength. Both groups achieved statistically significant improvement in all main parameters. No significant differences were found between the groups, even though WB-EMS required a considerably shorter period of active training. The authors therefore conclude that WB-EMS represents a time-efficient alternative to conventional intensive strength training.

- The randomised controlled trial included 48 untrained men aged 30-50. - The duration of the intervention was 16 weeks. - Muscle mass increased significantly in both groups: - HIT: +1.25% - WB-EMS: +0.93% - without a statistically significant difference between groups. - Lower limb strength increased significantly in both groups: - HIT: +12.7% - WB-EMS: +7.3% - The difference between the methods was not statistically significant. - Back muscle strength increased significantly in both groups with no differences between the methods. - Body fat decreased significantly with both HIT and WB-EMS. - WB-EMS achieved similar results with a shorter actual training time (20 minutes per session).

The study confirms that whole-body electromyostimulation can be a comparably effective alternative to conventional intensive strength training in developing muscle mass, muscle strength and reducing body fat. Thanks to the short duration of training, it can be a suitable choice for people with limited time, lower motivation for conventional exercise, or for facilities focused on efficient training and health programmes. The authors also note that WB-EMS requires professional guidance and individual adjustment of stimulation intensity.