Comparison of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation and Conventional Abdominal Exercise on Body Composition in SoccerPlayers

Abstract

Commercial manufacturers of NMES claim that the devices provide many of the benefits of conventional exercise regimes with the minimum of effort. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of a 4 week program of NMES upon both midriff girth, measured at two standardised sites, and percentage body fat, estimated from bioelectrical and skin fold measures. METHODS: Twenty eight male recreational soccer players (28.6 + 5.3yrs), not involved in any abdomen or strength conditioning work, volunteered for the project. They were split into two matched groups, Exercise v NMES, on the basis of baseline scores on a modified version of the National Coaching Foundation Abdominal Curl Conditioning test. The study utilised a cross-over design with each training regime involving 18 sessions of 20 minutes duration over 36 days, with a four week wash-out period between each condition. The NMES device was utilised continuously in each training session at frequencies of 60-100Hz and a pulse width of 420 μS. The Exercise group worked for 50 seconds of each minute for 5 consecutive minutes for on each of 4 exercises, the standard crunch, right and left lateral support and the reverse cradle crunch. For each condition, body fat was estimated at baseline and 5 weeks later using a Tanita TBF Bio-electrical impedance and Harpenden Skin fold callipers and the 7 site skin fold method of Heyward and Wagner (2004). Midriff girth was measured using a flexible steel anthropometric tape, at the level of the umbilicus and 10 cm above it. RESULTS: After four weeks of training body fat estimates fell by a mean of 1.0% in the Exercise condition and 0.8% in the NMES condition and by 0.6% and 0.7% (skinfolds). There was no difference in body fat changes between conditions (P>0.05). Upper midriff girth increased by 1.1mm in the NMES condition and fell by 3.4mm in the Exercise condition. The circumferences at the lower girth fell by 5.3mm and 4.2mm respectively. There was no significant difference between the conditions (P>0.05). CONCLUSION NMES resulted in body compositional changes and midriff girth reductions that were similar to those resulting from a conventional abdominal workout. NMES may prove useful in preventing a build up of adipose tissue around the midriff in those unable to exercise due to chronic illness or injury.