Acute Effects of Combining Whole-Body Electromyostimulation with Resistance Training in Active Women.
Andrea Buonsenso, Marco Centorbi, Giulia Di Martino, Carlo Della Valle, Gloria Di Claudio, Domenico Di Fonza, Erika Di Zazzo, Giuseppe Calcagno, Alessandra di Cagno, Giovanni Fiorilli
Author Information
Andrea Buonsenso: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy. ORCID
Marco Centorbi: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy. ORCID
Giulia Di Martino: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy. ORCID
Carlo Della Valle: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy. ORCID
Gloria Di Claudio: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy.
Domenico Di Fonza: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy.
Erika Di Zazzo: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy. ORCID
Giuseppe Calcagno: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy. ORCID
Alessandra di Cagno: Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", 00135 Rome, Italy. ORCID
Giovanni Fiorilli: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy. ORCID
Strength training elicits benefits both in performance and on a psychological level in women, such as increased muscle strength and improved self-esteem. Whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) could be a training strategy for enhancing muscular strength. The aim of this study was to assess the acute effects of a single session of WB-EMS superimposed over classic resistance training on isometric strength, endurance strength and flexibility. Furthermore, the safety of the protocol was assessed by monitoring the levels of creatine kinase (CK) 48 h after the training protocol was completed. Sixteen active women (aged 22.06 ± 1.88) were randomly assigned to an experimental group (EG) ( = 8) and a control group (CG) ( = 8). The EG performed four sets of 12 repetitions of three strength exercises with superimposed WB-EMS, while the CG performed the same protocol without WB-EMS. RM-ANOVA showed a significant time*group interaction on posterior kinetic chain extensors' mean and peak strength in the EG (F = 10.036; = 0.007; and F = 20.719; < 0.001; respectively). A significant time*group interaction was found in the sit and reach test for the EG (F = 10.362; = 0.006). Finally, ANOVA performed on the CK levels showed no significant difference between the groups (F = 0.715; = 0.412). WB-EMS training led to an immediate improvement in strength performance and flexibility, and this protocol was shown to be safe in terms of CK levels, 48 h after completing the training protocol.
