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Updated: Jun 5, 2026
A Murine Model of Muscle Training by Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation
Published on: May 9, 2012
Effects of whole-body electromyostimulation as a time-efficient intervention on myokine profile and muscular
Fatemeh Mahboobi Semnan1, Mohammad Bolbol Anbaran1, Mahdi Bayati2
1Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Science, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.
Introduction:
This study compared the efficacy of whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) vs. traditional resistance training (RT) in overweight adults.
Methods:
Forty overweight adults were randomized to WB-EMS (n = 14), RT (n = 14), or a control group (n = 12). Five participants withdrew during the intervention; consequently, and 35 participants completed the study and were included in the final analysis: WB-EMS (n = 12; age = 30 years, BMI = 29.12 kg/m2; 20-min sessions, 30 Hz, 350μs), RT (n = 12; age = 30 years; BMI = 29.14 kg/m2; 3 × 10 reps at 55%-70% 1RM), or control (n = 11, age = 29 years; BMI = 29.17 kg/m2). The intervention lasted 8 weeks with biweekly training sessions. Outcome measures included muscular performance tests, ultrasonographic muscle thickness measurements, and serum biomarkers (IL-15, myostatin, and follistatin). Between-group differences were analyzed using ANCOVA with baseline values as covariates.
Results:
Findings demonstrated significantly greater improvements in selected performance and biomarker outcomes in the WB-EMS group compared to other groups. Performance tests revealed significant enhancements in sit-ups (η p 2 = 0.35), push-ups (η p 2 = 0.54), and strength measures (η p 2 = 0.46) compared to RT and control groups. Biomarker analysis showed WB-EMS induced a 15.88% increase in IL-15 vs. 8.27% with RT and -4.92% in controls (p < 0.001). Myostatin decreased by 21.22% (WB-EMS) vs. 10.84% (RT), while increasing 5.08% in controls (p < 0.001). Follistatin levels rose by 17.96% (WB-EMS) and 8.92% (RT), with minimal change in controls (0.03%, p < 0.001). All between-group differences were statistically significant (p = 0.016-0.039) with large effect sizes (η p 2 = 0.35-0.63).
Conclusions:
Twenty-minute WB-EMS sessions twice weekly elicit significantly greater improvements in muscular performance and favorable myokine profiles compared to conventional RT in overweight individuals. These findings suggest that WB-EMS may represent a time-efficient alternative for improving metabolic-muscular health in time-constrained populations.
