Electromagnetic Field Application Effects on Recovery and Power after Sport-Specific Exercise Intervention

Abstract

Electromagnetic field application (EFA) has demonstrated increased vasomotor function of vessels throughout the body and thus on microcirculatory blood flow regulation in the clinical population. It is unknown if EFA can positively influence recovery and improve physical conditioning in tennis players. PURPOSE: To determine if EFA optimizes recovery and improves anaerobic/power parameters in female college tennis players. METHODS: Subjects for this study consisted of female NCAA Division II tennis players (n=7, age 19.7±1.3 y.o., weight 65.7± 9.7 kg, height 168.1 ±2.04 cm). EFA was used 22 times across a 4 week period after sport-specific training or after matches. EFA protocol included 8 minutes of laying on the BEMER EFA, which transmitted weak electromagnetic field of flux density 35-50 μTesla (highest level). Subjects were also required to express their Rate of Perceived Fatigue (RPF scale 0-10) before and after every application. Standardized 30 s Wingate tests were performed before the 1st week of the application, 1 week after, 3 weeks after, and 4 weeks after EFA recovery protocol. Heart rate (HR), O2 saturation and blood lactate (BL) were analyzed pre, post, post-1 min, post-3 min, post-5 min, and post-10 min after the Wingate tests. RESULTS: Absolute Peak Power (APP) increased after 22 EFA applications from 428.7±118.5 W to 491.5±113.4 W (p=0.063) and Relative Peak Power (RPP) increased from 6.5±1.2 W/kg to 7.5±0.9 W/kg (p=0.063). BL levels decreased post-1minute from 11.2±1.15 mmol/L to 9.8±1.5 mmol/L (p=0.063). ΔRPF before and after application decreased significantly from 2.57±0.79 to 1.43±0.79 (p=0.034). Although APP, RPP, and BL post-1minute improved, it was not significant (p=0.063) possibly because of the relatively small sample size. Changes in other anaerobic/power parameters were not as notably expressed. CONCLUSION: Improved microcirculatory blood flow could suggest that APP and RPP increased over the span of a 4-week period in female tennis players. Significant decrease in RPF suggests that EFA might be an effective tool to use for recovery after sport-specific training and/or matches for tennis players. Considering the observed changes in 4 weeks, supplementary studies using a larger sample size should be explored.