Abstract
Intensity regulation during whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) training is mostly controlled by subjective scales such as CR-10 Borg scale. To determine objective training intensities derived from a maximum as it is used in conventional strength training using the one-repetition-maximum (1-RM), a comparable maximum in WB-EMS is necessary. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine, if there is an individual maximum intensity tolerance plateau after multiple consecutive EMS application sessions. A total of 52 subjects (24.1 ± 3.2 years; 76.8 ± 11.1 kg; 1.77 ± 0.09 m) participated in the longitudinal, observational study (38 males, 14 females). Each participant carried out four consecutive maximal EMS applications (T1–T4) separated by 1 week. All muscle groups were stimulated successively until their individual maximum and combined to a whole-body stimulation index to carry out a possible statement for the development of the maximum intensity tolerance of the whole body. There was a significant main effect between the measurement times for all participants (p < 0.001; 𝜂2 = 0.39) as well as gender specific for males (p = 0.001; 𝜂2 = 0.18) and females (p < 0.001; 𝜂2 = 0.57). There were no interaction effects of gender × measurement time (p = 0.394). The maximum intensity tolerance increased significantly from T1 to T2 (p = 0.001) and T2 to T3 (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between T3 and T4 (p = 1.0). These results indicate that there is an adjustment of the individual maximum intensity tolerance to a WB-EMS training after three consecutive tests. Therefore, there is a need of several habituation units comparable to the identification of the individual 1-RM in conventional strength training. Further research should focus on an objective intensity-specific regulation of the WB-EMS based on the individual maximum intensity tolerance to characterize different training areas and therefore generate specific adaptations to a WB-EMS training compared to conventional strength training methods.
Highlights
Electromyostimulation training (EMS training) has been used since the early 1970s as a high-intensity training technology in high-performance sports, physical therapy, and rehabilitation (Selkowitz, 1985, 1989; Duchateau and Hainaut, 1988; BinderMacLeod and McDermond, 1992; Filipovic et al, 2011, 2012; Kemmler et al, 2018)
The personal best may be reached at all (Rutherford and Jones, 1986; Mayhew et al, 1989; Braith et al, 1993; Ritti-Dias et al, 2005, 2011; Wirth et al, 2012). This means that athletes require consecutive stimuli until they are able to reach a certain plateau or their individual maximum. This individual learning and familiarization phase is said to be unexplored in EMS training
The determination of the individual maximum intensity tolerance through preceding adaptation sessions could serve as a preparation for the wholebody EMS training (Ritti-Dias et al, 2011)
Summary
Electromyostimulation training (EMS training) has been used since the early 1970s as a high-intensity training technology in high-performance sports, physical therapy, and rehabilitation (Selkowitz, 1985, 1989; Duchateau and Hainaut, 1988; BinderMacLeod and McDermond, 1992; Filipovic et al, 2011, 2012; Kemmler et al, 2018). In conventional strength training, differentiated intensities are derived to control training and generate specific adaptations of the musculature to athletic exercise. These intensities are often based on the one-repetition-maximum (1-RM). The personal best may be reached at all (Rutherford and Jones, 1986; Mayhew et al, 1989; Braith et al, 1993; Ritti-Dias et al, 2005, 2011; Wirth et al, 2012) This means that athletes require consecutive stimuli until they are able to reach a certain plateau or their individual maximum. There is insufficient knowledge in the fields of deriving percentage training intensities and determining individual maximum intensity tolerances or an equivalent to the 1-RM
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