Physiological adaptations following vigorous exercise and moderate exercise with superimposed electrical stimulation.

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Sports Science
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) enhances exercise intensity by inducing involuntary muscle contractions and anaerobic metabolism.
• NMES is a potential tool for augmenting physiological adaptations typically seen with high-intensity training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if combining NMES with moderate-intensity exercise elicits similar physiological adaptations as vigorous voluntary exercise.
• To compare the effectiveness of NMES-assisted moderate exercise versus traditional vigorous exercise on cardiovascular and metabolic markers.

Main Methods:

• Eight participants performed moderate-intensity cycling at 75% VT with NMES (VOLES).
• Nine participants performed vigorous-intensity cycling at 100% VT (VOL).
• Both groups trained for nine weeks, matched for session duration.

Main Results:

• VOLES group reported significantly lower rating of perceived exertion (RPE) than VOL group.
• Both groups showed improvements in peak power output, oxygen consumption, heart rate, and blood lactate concentration.
• No significant differences in absolute changes in peak power output or submaximal cardiorespiratory/metabolic markers were observed between groups.

Conclusions:

• Superimposing NMES onto moderate exercise induces comparable cardiovascular and metabolic improvements to vigorous exercise.
• NMES-assisted training offers physiological benefits without the high perceived exertion associated with vigorous exercise.
• This suggests NMES is a viable method for enhancing exercise adaptations with reduced intensity perception.