EMS Combined With Resistance Training in Weight Lifters
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: EMS + Resistance Training, Resistance Training Only.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Body Composition, Muscle Mass, Muscle Strength. Basic parameters: 18 years — 40 years · Male.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Pakistan
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Effects of Electrical Muscle Stimulation Combined With Resistance Training on Muscle Mass, Strength, Body Composition, and Power in Weight Lifters
Overview
The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to determine the effects of Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) combined with resistance training on muscle mass, muscular strength, body composition, and power in trained weightlifters. Participants will be randomly allocated into two groups: one receiving resistance training alone and the other receiving EMS combined with resistance training. The intervention will be conducted for eight weeks, and outcome measures will be assessed at baseline, mid-intervention (4 weeks), and post-intervention (8 weeks). The findings of this study may provide evidence regarding the additional benefits of EMS when combined with conventional resistance training programs in enhancing muscular performance among trained athletes.
Detailed description
Resistance training is widely used to improve muscle mass, strength, and physical performance in athletes. Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) has recently gained attention as an adjunctive modality that may enhance neuromuscular activation and training adaptations when applied during exercise. EMS delivers electrical impulses to skeletal muscles through surface electrodes, which may recruit additional motor units and improve muscular performance outcomes.
This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of EMS when combined with resistance training in comparison to resistance training alone in trained male weightlifters. Participants will undergo an eight-week intervention consisting of supervised training sessions three times per week. Outcome measures related to muscle mass, strength, body composition, and power will be recorded at baseline, at four weeks, and at eight weeks.
The study findings may provide insight into the practical application of EMS in sports training and rehabilitation settings and its role in improving muscular performance outcomes in trained individuals.
Interventions
- Other EMS + Resistance Training
This group will combine the benefits of both EMS and Resistance Training to maximize muscle mass, strength, and body composition improvements using both EMS and RT (18). EMS will be applied to muscles using a frequency-specific protocol. EMS treatment according to the parameters defined as frequency (85 Hz), pulse duration (400 1s), and the duty cycle (10s on: 50s off). Exercises: A complementary schedule of EMS and resistance exercises. Frequency: 3 times per week (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) - Other Resistance Training Only
This protocol will emphasize muscle strengthening through resistance training to improve strength and muscle mass through traditional resistance training methods (7). Exercises: A selection of exercises focusing on muscle mass and strength. Compound exercises (such as squats, deadlifts, bench press) and isolation exercises (such as bicep curls, triceps extensions) Frequency: 3 times per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) for 8 weeks.
Primary outcome measures
- Mid Upper Arm Circumference [Time frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8]
- Thigh Circumference [Time frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8]
- Skinfold Thickness [Time frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8]
- 30s Sit-to-Stand Test [Time frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8]
- Arm Curl Test [Time frame: Baseline, 4 Week, 8 Week]
- 1RM Estimation (One Repetition Maximum) [Time frame: Baseline, 4 Week, 8 Week]
- Vertical Jump Test (Sayers Equation) [Time frame: Baseline, 4 Week, 8 Week]
- Standing Long Jump [Time frame: Baseline, 4 Week, 8 Week]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Male participants aged 18-40 years
- Resistance training ≥3 times/week for at least 1 year
- Active participation in weightlifting, bodybuilding, or strength athletics
- Medically cleared for physical activity
Exclusion criteria
- Neuromuscular disorders
- Cardiac pacemaker or implantable electronic device
- Recent musculoskeletal injury (within the last 6 months)
- Skin sensitivity or allergy to EMS electrodes
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Pakistan · 1 center
- Punjab Sports Board — Lahore
Publications
- Amarante do Nascimento M, Nunes JP, Pina FLC, Ribeiro AS, Carneiro NH, Venturini D, Barbosa DS, Mayhew JL, Cyrino ES. Comparison of 2 Weekly Frequencies of Resistance Training on Muscular Strength, Body Composition, and Metabolic Biomarkers in Resistance-Trained Older Women: Effects of Detraining and Retraining. J Strength Cond Res. 2022 May 1;36(5):1437-1444. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003799. Ep PMID 32868680
- Arazi H, Asadi A, Gentil P, Ramirez-Campillo R, Jahangiri P, Ghorbani A, Hackney AC, Zouhal H. Effects of different resistance training frequencies on body composition and muscular performance adaptations in men. PeerJ. 2021 Apr 21;9:e10537. doi: 10.7717/peerj.10537. eCollection 2021. PMID 33976952
- Kassiano W, Nunes JP, Costa B, Ribeiro AS, Schoenfeld BJ, Cyrino ES. Does Varying Resistance Exercises Promote Superior Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength Gains? A Systematic Review. J Strength Cond Res. 2022 Jun 1;36(6):1753-1762. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004258. Epub 2022 Apr 1. PMID 35438660
- Mcleod JC, Currier BS, Lowisz CV, Phillips SM. The influence of resistance exercise training prescription variables on skeletal muscle mass, strength, and physical function in healthy adults: An umbrella review. J Sport Health Sci. 2024 Jan;13(1):47-60. doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2023.06.005. Epub 2023 Jun 28. PMID 37385345
- Grgic J, Schoenfeld BJ, Davies TB, Lazinica B, Krieger JW, Pedisic Z. Effect of Resistance Training Frequency on Gains in Muscular Strength: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sports Med. 2018 May;48(5):1207-1220. doi: 10.1007/s40279-018-0872-x. PMID 29470825
- Kaabi S, Mabrouk RH, Passelergue P. Weightlifting Is Better Than Plyometric Training to Improve Strength, Counter Movement Jump, and Change of Direction Skills in Tunisian Elite Male Junior Table Tennis Players. J Strength Cond Res. 2022 Oct 1;36(10):2912-2919. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003972. Epub 2021 Feb 24. PMID 33629971
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07484646 · Aifa Zeenat REC/25/0414