ArticleFrontiers in physiology2022
Feasibility and Safety of Whole-Body Electromyostimulation in Frail Older People-A Pilot Trial.
Article in Frontiers in physiology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT05672264 (Whole-body Electromyostimulation for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis), which is not on this map. Cited by 9 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Whole-body Electromyostimulation for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis (EMSOAT) in Overweight People - a Randomized Controlled Trial
Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 17 citations in OpenAlex.
- Enhancement of muscle strength in older people using smart leggings with focal muscle vibration technology.European geriatric medicine · 2026Trial
- Improving Lower Limb Function and Frailty in Frail Older Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Randomized Controlled Study of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation.Clinical interventions in aging · 2024Trial
- Effects of Whole-Body Electromyostimulation on the Thickness of Appendicular and Respiratory Muscles, Functionality, and Frailty in Patients From a Transitional Care Unit: A Randomized Clinical Trial Protocol.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy · 2026Article
- Whole-Body Electromyostimulation Coupled with Aerobic Exercise Boosts Serum Irisin Levels in Healthy Individuals: A Pilot Study.Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology · 2025Article
- Comparative Efficiency of Whole-Body Electromyostimulation and Resistance Training in Enhancing 1-Repetition Maximum.Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology · 2025Article
- Accelerated Bone Healing via Electrical Stimulation.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2025Review
- Non-Athletic Cohorts Enrolled in Longitudinal Whole-Body Electromyostimulation Trials-An Evidence Map.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Review
- Superimposed electromyostimulation of the thigh muscles during passive isokinetic cycling increases muscle strength without effort.Journal of frailty, sarcopenia and falls · 2023Article
- Commentary: Editorial-Whole-body electromyostimulation: A training technology to improve health and performance in humans? volume II.Frontiers in physiology · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) induces high-intense stimuli to skeletal muscles with low strain on joints and the autonomic nervous system and may thus be suitable for frail, older people. However, if trained at very high intensities, WB-EMS may damage muscles and kidneys (rhabdomyolysis). This study aimed at investigating the feasibility, safety and preliminary efficacy of WB-EMS in frail, older people. Seven frail (81.3 ± 3.5 years), 11 robust (79.5 ± 3.6 years), 10 young (29.1 ± 6.4 years) participants completed an eight-week WB-EMS training (week 1-4: 1x/week; week 5-8: 1.5x/week) consisting of functional exercises addressing lower extremity strength and balance. Feasibility was assessed using recruitment, adherence, retention, and dropout rates. The satisfaction with WB-EMS was measured using the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale for older adults (PACES-8). In week 1, 3, and 8 creatine kinase (CK) was assessed immediately before, 48 and 72 h after WB-EMS. Symptoms of rhabdomyolysis (muscle pain, muscle weakness, myoglobinuria) and adverse events were recorded. Functional capacity was assessed at baseline and after 8 weeks using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Timed Up-and-Go Test (TUG), Choice Stepping Reaction Time Test (CSRT), 30-second Chair-Stand Test (30-STS), maximum isometric leg strength and handgrip strength. The recruitment rate of frail individuals was 46.2%, adherence 88.3% and the dropout rate 16.7%. All groups indicated a high satisfaction with WB-EMS. CK activity was more pronounced in young individuals with significant changes over time. Within older people CK increased borderline-significantly in the frail group from baseline to week 1 but not afterwards. In robust individuals CK increased significantly from baseline to week 1 and 3. No participant reached CK elevations close to the threshold of ≥5,000 U/l and no symptoms of rhabdomyolysis were observed. With the exception of the TUG (
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.