Whole-body electromyostimulation as a means to impact muscle mass and abdominal body fat in lean, sedentary, older female adults: subanalysis of the TEST-III trial

Abstract

Background

The primary aim of this study was to determine the effect of 12 months of whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) exercise on appendicular muscle mass and abdominal fat mass in subjects specifically at risk for sarcopenia and abdominal obesity, but unable or unwilling to exercise conventionally.

Methods

Forty-six lean, nonsportive (<60 minutes of exercise per week), elderly women (aged 75 ± 4 years) with abdominal obesity according to International Diabetes Federation criteria were randomly assigned to either a WB-EMS group (n=23) which performed 18 minutes of intermittent, bipolar WB-EMS (85 Hz) three sessions in 14 days or an “active” control group (n=23). Whole-body and regional body composition was assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry to determine appendicular muscle mass, upper leg muscle mass, abdominal fat mass, and upper leg fat mass. Maximum strength of the leg extensors was determined isometrically by force plates.

Results

After 12 months, significant intergroup differences were detected for the primary end-points of appendicular muscle mass (0.5% ± 2.0% for the WB-EMS group versus −0.8% ± 2.0% for the control group, P=0.025) and abdominal fat mass (−1.2% ± 5.9% for the WB-EMS group versus 2.4% ± 5.8% for the control group, P=0.038). Further, upper leg lean muscle mass changed favorably in the WB-EMS group (0.5% ± 2.5% versus −0.9% ± 1.9%, in the control group, P=0.033), while effects for upper leg fat mass were borderline nonsignificant (−0.8% ± 3.5% for the WB-EMS group versus 1.0% ± 2.6% for the control group, P=0.050). With respect to functional parameters, the effects for leg extensor strength were again significant, with more favorable changes in the WB-EMS group (9.1% ± 11.2% versus 1.0% ± 8.1% in the control group, P=0.010).

Conclusion

In summary, WB-EMS showed positive effects on the parameters of sarcopenia and regional fat accumulation. Further, considering the good acceptance of this technology by this nonsportive elderly cohort at risk for sarcopenia and abdominal obesity, WB-EMS may be a less off-putting alternative to impact appendicular muscle mass and abdominal fat mass, at least for subjects unwilling or unable to exercise conventionally.

Introduction

Age-related shift towards decreased muscle mass and increased (abdominal) fat mass is an important cause of frailty, loss of independence, and metabolic and cardiac disease, resulting in impaired quality of life¹ and increased mortality in the aged.²³ Regular exercise affects a wide range of risk factors and diseases of the aged. In this context, most trials have confirmed the positive effect of intense exercise training on muscle mass, functional capacity, and (abdominal) body fat mass in the aged.^4–7 However, in our fundamentally sedentary society, enthusiasm for regular exercise to prevent future complaints and mortality is less prevalent. In Germany,⁸ only 20% of women aged 65 years and older “reported” the exercise doses recommended for positively impacting body composition or bone mass.^9–11 Even ignoring the possibility that self-reported physical activity may overestimate the real scenario,¹² these statistics demonstrate that the majority of elderly subjects seem either unable or unwilling to participate in regular exercise programs.⁸ For these individuals, whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) may overcome some of the limitations of conventional types of exercise training and may be an acceptable and time-saving option¹³ for favorably impacting body composition and functional capacity.^14–16 In addition to the tried and tested local application of electromyostimulation with its directly stimulating effect on the rate of skeletal muscle protein synthesis,¹⁶ WB-EMS enlarges this effect by its simultaneous activation of a total area of 2.800 cm² (16 regions, Figure 2) with different dedicated intensities/regions, and thus extends the potential of electromyostimulation. Recent WB-EMS trials in elderly cohorts not only demonstrated favorable effects on muscle mass, fat mass, and functional capacity,^14,15 but also provided a strong body of evidence that this technology is highly acceptable to the aged user.^14,15 However, for an aged nonsportive cohort at risk for sarcopenia and abdominal obesity, the corresponding evidence that WB-EMS favorably impacts muscle mass as the main predictor of sarcopenia and abdominal body fat as a key factor of metabolic and cardiac disease¹⁷ has yet to be provided. Further, the long-term effects of WB-EMS with respect to feasibility parameters also remain to be established.

Figure 2.

Whole-body electromyostimulation electrodes (vest and sleeves).

Thus, the primary purpose of this study was to determine the effect of 12 months of WB-EMS exercise on appendicular muscle mass and abdominal fat mass in subjects specifically at risk for sarcopenia and with abdominal obesity. Furthermore, we aimed to assess the WB-EMS-derived effect on muscle and fat mass of the upper leg region, an area with high relevance for independent living¹⁸ but specifically impacted by sarcopenia.¹⁹

Our primary hypothesis was that WB-EMS training significantly increases appendicular skeletal muscle mass and decreases abdominal fat mass compared with a control group. Our secondary hypothesis was that WB-EMS training significantly increases upper leg muscle mass while upper leg fat mass decreases significantly compared with a control group.

Materials and methods

This study was based on data from the Training and ElectroStimulation Trial III (TEST-III),^20,21 a randomized, controlled 12-month study of light-weight, nonsportive, osteopenic women aged 70 years and older that primarily focused on sarcopenia and osteoporosis. The study protocol was approved by the ethics committee of the FriedrichAlexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany (Ethik Antrag 4184) and the German Radiation Safety Agency (Z 5–22462/2–2010-027). After detailed information was provided, written informed consent was obtained from all the subjects prior to study entry. The study was conducted from November 2010 through July 2012 at the Institute of Medical Physics, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg. The study is fully registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT 12296776).

The primary study endpoints were appendicular skeletal muscle mass and abdominal fat mass; secondary endpoints were upper leg muscle mass and upper leg fat mass; and the experimental endpoint was maximum isometric leg strength.

Participants

Figure 1 shows the participant flow during the different phases of the study adapted for the subanalysis performed in this article. For a more extensive description of the recruitment procedures, the reader is referred to other publications.^20,21 Briefly, in a first step, female subjects aged 70 years and older and living in the area of Erlangen were contacted by mail that included most of the relevant eligibility criteria for the study. Four hundred and fifty-one women responded (5%), and were assessed further for eligibility by telephone interview. In order to identify a cohort with a high risk of sarcopenia, exclusion criteria focused on “leanness” and “physical inactivity”. Further, factors preventing proper application of WB-EMS or parameters that may confound the study results were addressed. Thus, subjects were excluded if they: did not meet our criteria for “lean” or “light-weight” as determined by the Broca Index²² (body weight [kg] < body height [cm] − 100); “exercised” for more than about one hour per week for the previous 5 years; reported contraindications to application of WB-EMS (ie, total hip endoprosthesis, cardiac arrhythmia); took medication and/or suffered from diseases affecting our study endpoints; or said they would be absent for more than 4 weeks during the study period.

Figure 1.

Flow chart.

Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; BMD, bone mineral density; SD, standard deviation; WB-EMS, whole-body electromyostimulation; WC, waist circumference.

Applying these criteria, 272 subjects were excluded, and the remaining 179 women were invited to our laboratory for further examination, where a further 71 women were excluded after measuring their weight and height using calibrated devices. Finally, 32 further women were excluded because they did not meet our inclusion criteria of osteopenia at the lumbar spine or proximal femur (<−1 standard deviation t-score).

The remaining 76 eligible subjects were stratified by age (in 5-year strata) and randomly assigned to a WB-EMS group (n=38) or a control group (n=38). For the analysis discussed here, only those subjects with “central obesity” (waist circumference >80 cm for Caucasian females) at baseline as defined by the International Diabetes Federation¹⁷ and the European Group for the Study of Insulin Resistance²³ were retrospectively included in the intention-to-treat analysis. Applying these criteria, 46 (WB-EMS group, n=23; control group, n=23) of 78 subjects (61%) from the initial TEST-III study could finally be included. All subjects were of Caucasian race. The baseline characteristics of both groups are given in Table 1. No relevant differences between the groups were determined for these parameters.

Table 1.

Baseline characteristics of the WB-EMS and control groups

Variable	WB-EMS (n=23)	Control (n=23)
Age (years)*	74.7 ± 3.9	74.7 ± 3.9
Age at menopause (years)*	50.1 ± 5.7	49.6 ± 5.8
Body height (cm)	162.7 ± 5.0	163.5 ± 4.4
Body weight (kg)	59.3 ± 6.2	59.4 ± 5.1
Body mass index (kg/m2)	22.4 ± 1.1	22.2 ± 1.2
Total body fat DXA (%)	32.5 ± 3.1	32.8 ± 3.3
Waist circumference (cm)	87.1 ± 5.1	87.4 ± 4.7
Total energy uptake (mJ/day)**	6.52 ± 1.76	6.57 ± 1.53
Exercise volume (min/week)*	31.1 ± 12.9	33.7 ± 18.8
Grip strength (kg)	24.1 ± 4.5	23.8 ± 3.7
Walking speed (m/sec)	1.42 ± 0.39	1.44 ± 0.45
Sarcopenia score*** (kg/m2)	6.17 ± 0.48	6.07 ± 0.51
Sarcopenia¥ (n)	1 (4%)	2 (9%)
Sarcopenia (EWGSOP) (n)	0	0

Notes:

^*As assessed by detailed questionnaires;³³,³⁴ **as assessed by 4-day dietary protocols;

^***skeletal muscle mass index (appendicular muscle mass/body height);

^¥skeletal muscle mass index <5.45 kg/m.²,²⁷

Abbreviations: DXA, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry; EWGSOP, European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People; WB-EMS, whole-body electromyostimulation.

Intervention

We set up two study groups, one of which carried out 54 weeks of a WB-EMS protocol, while in parallel, a control group performed an intermittent exercise program with low exercise intensity. This procedure was selected to validate the isolated effect of WB-EMS versus a motivated and “blinded” (active) control (“placebo”) group which performed gymnastics containing identical low intensity/low amplitude movements to those in the WB-EMS group. With respect to these movements, we focus on the same total exercise volume in the WB-EMS and control groups. However, in order to maintain motivation and attendance of the control subjects and to mimic recent German health care standards with their 10–12 weeks of exercise, the structure and design of the control group intervention differed from that of the WB-EMS group. Both groups exercised at the Institute of Medical Physics, which is centrally located and can be easily reached by public transport. All the sessions were supervised by certified trainers who also logged the participants’ attendance. Apart from the study intervention, subjects were asked to maintain their habitual life style.

WB-EMS intervention

Because WB-EMS is a rather novel technology, a brief introduction is given. Innovative and different from more widely known local electromyostimulation, current WB-EMS equipment enables simultaneous activation of up to 14–18 regions or 8–12 muscle groups (both upper legs, both upper arms, buttocks, abdomen, chest, lower back, upper back, latissimus dorsi, and four free options) with selectable intensity for each region. Summing up the stimulated area, up to 2.800 cm² of area can be simultaneously activated (Figures 2 and 3). Strain or current intensity can be individually selected and modified during the electromyostimulation session. Our 18-minute WB-EMS program scheduled the intermitted low intensity/low amplitude movement protocol specifically evaluated for elderly subjects and carefully described in our recent pilot studies.^14,15,24 Briefly, three subjects simultaneously performed a video-guided 18-minute WB-EMS program at three electromyostimulation stations under the supervision of a certified instructor three times in 2 weeks (every Monday or Tuesday and every second Thursday or Friday) for 54 weeks with 2 weeks of holidays (Figure 3). Bipolar electric current was applied with a frequency of 85 Hz, and an impulse breadth of 350 μsec intermittently with 6 seconds of electromyostimulation using a direct impulse boost to perform the slight movements and 4 seconds of rest on WB-EMS devices manufactured by miha bodytec (Gersthofen, Germany). Thus, total time under current per session ranged around 11 minutes, with approximately 7 minutes of rest between exercises. Additionally, 5–7 minutes of setup time was needed for preparation and post-processing. Due to regional and individual disparities in current sensitivity we are unable to prescribe the exact stimulation intensity in mA. To generate a sufficient but tolerable intensity of electromyostimulation, participants were asked to exercise at a rate of perceived exertion between “somewhat hard” (rate of perceived exertion 14) and “hard” (rate of perceived exertion 16). To accurately determine and record the level of rate of perceived exertion during the electromyostimulation we used a rate of perceived exertion scale ranging from 6 (very low) to 20 (maximum).²⁵ Electromyostimulation was applied during slight movements, with low amplitude performed without any additional weights in a standing position (Figure 3). Amplitude, velocity, and corresponding intensity generated by the movement was set low (ie, squat: leg-flexion <35°) to prevent effects from the exercise per se.¹⁴ Core exercise/movements performed were: “quarter” (leg flexion <35°) squat (6 seconds down) with arm extension/“quarter” (leg flexion <35°) deadlift (6 seconds up) with arm flexion; “quarter” squat (6 seconds down) with trunk flexion (crunches); “quarter” squat (6 seconds down) with lat pulleys/“quarter” squat (6 seconds up) with military press; “quarter” squat (6 seconds down), crunch with butterfy/“quarter” squat (6 seconds up) and reverse fly; “quarter” squat (6 seconds down) and vertical chest press/“quarter” squat (6 seconds up) and vertical rowing. The core exercises listed above were combined and slightly modified (eg, twisted crunch) to generate ten different types of slight movements/exercises; however, there was no progressive incrementing of intensity with respect to the movements during the interventional period. Thus, all in all, the WB-EMS session consisted of 10–14 dynamic exercises, structured in 1–2 sets of eight repetitions.

Figure 3.

Whole-body electromyostimulation exercise protocol.

Current intensity was individually adapted for each region in agreement with the participants during the first sessions and after 6, 12, and 26 weeks. The corresponding setting was saved on chip cards for each muscle group/region in order to generate a fast, reliable, and valid setting in the subsequent sessions. Starting with this initial setting, instructors slightly increased the current intensity every 3–5 minutes in close cooperation with the participants in order to maintain the rate of perceived exertion between “somewhat hard” and “hard”. Thus, we generated a high relative intensity during the course of the study and therefore decided against applying a more sophisticated progression model. The rate of perceived exertion reported by the participants at the end of the session was recorded every other week.

Control group

In order to generate a “placebo condition” and to validate that WB-EMS and not slight movements were effective for impacting the study endpoints, we set up a control group that exercised in a different setting/framework. Subjects in the control group exercised for 10 weeks (one session of 60 minutes per week) interspersed by 10 weeks of rest during the 54-week interventional period. This procedure mimics the recent standards of the relevant German health care suppliers. The exercise protocol in the session consisted of a gentle warm-up (5 minutes of walking), with emphasis being placed on slight dynamic exercises identical to those performed during the WB-EMS sessions. As with the exercises/movements in the WB-EMS group protocol, no progressive increase of exercise intensity or volume was undertaken during the study period.

Testing procedures

All assessments and analyses were carried out in a blinded fashion. Baseline and follow-up tests were performed by the same assistants at the same time of the day (±60 minutes). The research assistants were not informed about or allowed to ask about participant status (WB-EMS or control group).

Anthropometry

Height was determined barefoot to the nearest 0.1 cm using a stadiometer (Holtain Ltd, Crymych Dyfed, UK). Body weight was measured to the nearest 0.1 kg on digital scales (InBody 230, Biospace, Seoul, Korea). Waist circumference was measured as the minimum circumference between the distal end of the rib cage and the top of the iliac crest along the mid axillary line. Body mass index was calculated by weight (kg)/height (m²). Normal weight, overweight, or underweight was estimated using the simple Broca Index ([body weight (kg) > body height (cm) − 100]²²).

Lean body mass and fat mass were assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA, QDR 4500a, Discovery™ Upgrade, Hologic Inc, Bedford, MA, USA) using standard protocols.²⁶ The region of interest for abdominal body fat (abdominal fat mass) was segmented between the lower edge of the twelfth rib and the upper edge of the iliac crest. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (fat-free and bone-free proportion of the legs and arms [kg] as assessed by DXA/height [m²]) was calculated according to the method suggested by Baumgartner et al.²⁷ Region of interest for lean (nonosseous) and fat mass of the upper legs was segmented between the lower edge of the ischium and the lower edge of the femur.

Sarcopenia was defined as appendicular muscle mass of more than two standard deviations below the values for a “normal” healthy cohort aged approximately 30 years (ie, appendicular muscle mass <5.45 kg/m²).²⁷ In order to calculate the more recent sarcopenia scores of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP),²⁸ we also determined walking speed and grip strength at baseline.

Functional testing

Usual (habitual) walking speed was tested by the 10 m walk test suggested by Lindemann et al,²⁹ which excludes the first 2.5 m of walking from the analysis. Grip strength of the dominant hand (Jamar dynamometer, Bolingbrook, IL, USA) was determined at baseline according to the method suggested by Mathiowetz et al.³⁰ The coefficient of variation for these tests was 4.5% (walk test) and 3.5% (grip strength) in our laboratory.

Maximum isometric strength during a leg press (knee flexion 85°) was determined with a force plate (MTD Systems, Neuburg vorm Wald Germany) according to the test protocol of Tusker.³¹ For the exact positioning and procedures, the reader is referred to other publications.³² The coefficient of variation for our testing scheme was 3.9% for the leg press.

A detailed validated questionnaire was used^33,34 to assess subject status (ie, age, diseases, medication, lifestyle), well being, pain parameters at different skeletal sites, prestudy exercise levels, and normal daily activity levels. The follow-up questionnaires also contained sections to monitor lifestyle changes, disease incidence, changes in disease severity, or sporting activity outside the prescribed training program.

The individual dietary intake was assessed by 5-day protocols completed by each study participant before and after the interventional period. Subjects were requested to weigh precisely the food they consumed. The protocols were analyzed using Prodi-4, 5/03 Expert software (Wissenschaftlicher Verlag, Freiburg, Germany).

Statistical analysis

We calculated a statistical power analysis for our primary endpoint of appendicular muscle mass based on a sample size of 23 subjects per group, a type I error of α =5%, and an exercise effect of 2.0% ± 2.5% for appendicular muscle mass. Statistical power with respect to type II error (1-β) was calculated at 0.77%. The analysis was based on an intention-to-treat strategy that included all the subjects independent of their loss to follow-up or withdrawal. Missing values (n=2 each for the WB-EMS and control groups) were imputed using the simple and conservative last observation carried forward concept. Baseline characteristics and follow-up data are reported as mean values and standard deviations. Changes between baseline and follow-up in the WB-EMS and control groups were reported as absolute (tables) and percentage changes (text). In addition, mean differences (with 95% confidence intervals) for primary, secondary, and experimental endpoints for the WB-EMS and control groups based on absolute changes are reported in Tables 2 and 3.

Table 2.

Baseline and follow-up data, absolute changes, and statistical parameters of primary endpoints in the WB-EMS and control groups

	WB-EMS (mean ± SD)	Control (mean ± SD)	Difference mean (95% CI)	P	Effect size (d)
Appendicular skeletal muscle mass (g)
Baseline	16,423 ± 2,172	16,281 ± 1,777	–	–	–
12 months	16,506 ± 2,169	16,147 ± 1,820	–	–	–
Difference	83 ± 327§	−133 ± 303*	216 (29–404)	0.025	0.69
Abdominal body fat (g)
Baseline	10,310 ± 2,329	10,000 ± 1,678	–	–	–
12 months	10,184 ± 2,316	10,243 ± 1,898	–	–	–
Difference	−126 ± 560§	243 ± 607§	368 (21–719)	0.038	0.63

Notes: Significance for within-group effects: *P<0.05, and ^§not statistically significant. Exact significance values are listed in the Results section.

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; SD, standard deviation; WB-EMS, whole-body electromyostimulation.

Table 3.

Changes in body fat and maximum isometric strength in the WB-EMS and control groups

	WB-EMS (mean ± SD)	Control (mean ± SD)	Difference mean (95% CI)	P	Effect size (d)
Upper leg muscle mass (g)
Baseline	7,839 ± 1,132	7,937 ± 856	–	–	–
12 month	7,881 ± 1,112	7,861 ± 889	–	–	–
Difference	42 ± 208§	−75 ± 149*	117 (10–225)	0.033	0.65
Upper leg fat mass (g)
Baseline	4,987 ± 1,028	4,785 ± 922	–	–	–
12 month	4,946 ± 1,058	4,833 ± 972	–	–	–
Difference	−41 ± 166§	49 ± 133§	90 (0–179)	0.050	0.60
Maximum isometric strength leg extensors (leg press) (N)
Baseline	602 ± 160	524 ± 159	–	–	–
12 month	656 ± 91	529 ± 180	–	–	–
Difference	55 ± 71*	5 ± 49§	50 (12–87)	0.010	0.82

Notes: Significance (P) for within-group effects: *P<0.05; ^§not statistically significant. Exact significance values are listed in the Results section.

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; SD, standard deviation; WB-EMS, whole-body electromyostimulation; N, Newton.

In order to obtain normally distributed data, all study endpoints were log-transformed. Differences within groups were analyzed by paired t-tests. Analyses of variance with repeated measurements adjusted for baseline values were performed to check time-group interactions. All tests were two-tailed, and statistical significance was accepted at P<0.05. Effect sizes based on the absolute difference (± standard deviation) between baseline and follow-up in the WB-EMS group versus the control group were calculated using Cohen’s d.³⁵ Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 21.0 software (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA) was used for all statistical procedures.

Results

Two subjects each in the WB-EMS group and control group were lost to follow-up (one case each of hip fracture and cancer in the WB-EMS group, relocation and a death in the control group). Another two subjects in the control group and three in the WB-EMS group discontinued the study for personal reasons; however, all of these subjects were fully assessed at follow-up. Of importance, two subjects listed study-related reasons for their withdrawal (one in the control group reported problems getting to classes, and one in the WB-EMS group reported discomfort, ie, regular slight muscular soreness, performing WB-EMS).

Overall, the attendance rate in the WB-EMS group (n=23) was 76% ± 19% (59.3 of 78 sessions) and 73% ± 19% (14.5 of 20 sessions) in the control group (n=23). Thus, net exercise volume averaged approximately 21 minutes per week (ie, about 13 minutes per week “under electricity”) in the WB-EMS group versus approximately 17 minutes per week in the control group. Average exercise intensity of the WB-EMS session as reported by the participants was 14.6 ± 1.2 for the WB-EMS and 10.0 ± 1.5 for the control group according to the rate of perceived exertion scale (P=0.001).

No relevant injuries were observed during the WB-EMS or control sessions. Further, no adverse effects from the interventions were reported by the participants. Lastly, changes in parameters that may have affected our primary and secondary outcomes (eg, lifestyle, dietary intake, diseases, or medication) did not vary between the two groups.

Primary endpoints

Appendicular muscle mass decreased significantly in the control group (−0.8% ± 2.0%; P=0.047) and increased slightly in the WB-EMS group (0.5% ± 2.0%; P=0.236). Differences between the WB-EMS and control groups were significant (P=0.025; effect size, d=0.69, Table 2). Fat mass of the abdominal region of interest (abdominal fat mass) increased by 2.4% ± 5.8% (P=0.068) in the control group and decreased slightly by −1.2% ± 5.7% (P=0.294) in the WB-EMS group (abdominal fat mass, P=0.069). Differences between groups were significant (P=0.038; effect size, d=0.63, Table 2). Change in waist circumference (−1.1 ± 2.1 cm in the WB-EMS group versus 1.0 ± 2.8 cm in the control group, P=0.007; effect size, d =0.85) confirmed the favorable effect of WB-EMS on abdominal obesity. Thus, the first hypothesis that WB-EMS training significantly increases appendicular skeletal muscle mass and decreases abdominal fat mass compared with a control group can be confirmed.

Secondary endpoints

Lean body mass of the upper legs decreased significantly in the control group (−0.9% ± 1.9%, P=0.023) and increased slightly in the WB-EMS group (0.5% ± 2.5%, P=0.346). Differences between the WB-EMS and control groups were significant (P=0.033; effect size, d=0.65, Table 3). Fat content of the upper leg decreased by −0.8% ± 3.5% (P=0.248) in the WB-EMS group and increased (1.0% ± 2.6%, P=0.095) in the control group. Difference between the groups were borderline nonsignificant (P=0.050; effect size, d=0.60, Table 3). Thus, the second hypothesis that WB-EMS training significantly increases upper leg muscle mass while upper leg fat mass decreases significantly compared with a control group cannot be fully confirmed.

Experimental endpoints

Maximum isometric strength of the leg extensors (9.1% ± 11.2%, P=0.002) increased significantly in the WB-EMS group (P<0.001) and increased slightly (1.0% ± 8.1%, P=0.631) in the control group (Table 3). Differences in intra-group changes between the WB-EMS and control groups were significant (P=0.010; effect size, d=0.82).

Discussion

This subanalysis of the TEST-III study is the first clinical trial to evaluate the WB-EMS-derived effect on body composition in this highly relevant cohort of elderly females with an increased risk for/or with prevalent sarcopenia and abdominal obesity.

From an epidemiologic point of view, the first interesting finding was that the majority of subjects (61%) in this cohort of elderly German females, ranging in the lowest age-adjusted body mass index quartile,^36,37 had abdominal obesity, at least applying the definition (waist circumference >80 cm) of the International Diabetes Federation¹⁷ or European Group for the Study of Insulin Resistance.²³ Applying the less strict World Health Organization³⁸ criterion of abdominal adiposity (waist circumference for women ≥88 cm) still leaves almost half (47%) of our subjects in this category. Applying the sarcopenic obesity definition of Zamboni et al³⁹ and/or Stenholm et al,² on the other hand, none of our subjects reached cutoff values for obesity,” eg, percentage body fat >38%,⁴⁰ >40%,⁴¹ and >42.9%.⁴²

Also surprising, only three of 46 subjects were classified as sarcopenic according to the criteria of Baumgartner et al.²⁷ Applying the algorithm suggested by EWGSOP for sarcopenia,²⁸ ie, habitual gait speed ≤0.8 m/second or grip strength <20 kg and low appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASMM) index, none among this lean, nonsportive, and osteopenic cohort of elderly women was classified as sarcopenic. This finding was unexpected given that the prevalence of sarcopenia (appendicular muscle mass <5.45 kg/m²) in the general US population was reported to be 5%–13% for subjects aged 60–70 years^27,43 and approximately 30%–50% for subjects aged 80 years.^27,44,45 Obviously, independent living conflicts severely with recent cutoff values of sarcopenia, at least when including functional aspects. This idea seems consistent, and our rather low prevalence of sarcopenia has been confirmed by two current articles^46,47 addressing sarcopenia in 70–80-year-old home-dwelling women in Finland and the UK that assessed appendicular muscle mass⁴⁶ or lean body mass⁴⁶ by the DXA technique. Applying the EWGSOP²⁸ criteria, the authors reported a prevalence of 8% for the UK cohort and 0.9% for the Finnish cohort.

Summing up our results, we have clearly verified our primary hypothesis that WB-EMS training significantly impacts appendicular muscle mass and abdominal body fat mass in this highly relevant cohort of normal weight to underweight nonsportive elderly females. With respect to upper leg body composition, we observed comparable effects, although statistical significance was just missed (P=0.050) for upper leg fat mass. Thus, WB-EMS not only affected muscle parameters, which was to be expected, but also had favorable effects on abdominal body fat, which is a key factor in metabolic and cardiac disorders.^17,48 Although total exercise volume (21 minutes per week with 13 minutes per week “under load” effectively) was quite low, the high metabolic activity during WB-EMS with its simultaneous stimulation of 2,650 cm of total area along with the subsequent adaptive response may trigger the corresponding effect. However, using indirect calorimetry we failed to demonstrate energy expenditure high enough (412 ± 61 kcal/hour) to explain the corresponding abdominal fat mass changes.²⁴ Nevertheless, due to the fact that the extra-mitochondrial fraction of energy production cannot be determined by this method,⁴⁹ the real effect of WB-EMS on energy expenditure and excessive post-exercise energy consumption may have been grossly underestimated. Hamada et al⁵⁰ noted a substantial involvement of glycolytic energy production in their thigh electromyostimulation procedure. This was paralleled by a significant rise in lactic acid during electromyostimulation compared with voluntary exercise at identical VO₂ levels. In addition to these acute effects, another component for the decrease in (abdominal) fat may be the impact on resting metabolic rate observed in elderly females¹⁴ after application of WB-EMS.

One may argue that a comparison of WB-EMS with resistance training effects on muscle or fat mass is not necessarily helpful, given that WB-EMS should be considered as an option for subjects who would not undertake resistance exercise anyway. Nevertheless, we provide here a short review in order to allow the reader to estimate the (clinical) significance of WB-induced muscle mass and fat changes compared with the gold standard therapy of “exercise training”. Unfortunately, only two relevant studies that also focus on exercise effects on appendicular muscle mass in female subjects aged 65 years and older (SEFIP study) were found. Briefly, Ades et al⁵¹ were unable to generate positive effects on appendicular muscle mass after 6 months of progressive resistance exercise (three sessions per week, eight exercises for all main muscle groups, two sets with 10 repetitions at 80% repetition maximum) compared with inactive controls. On the other hand, our recent 18-month exercise trial,⁵² which applied an intense resistance protocol using identical methods including a slightly exercising control group, showed comparable positive net effects (exercise/WB-EMS versus control) for appendicular muscle mass (TEST-III-study: 216 ± 93 g, d=0.69 versus SEFIP study: 299 ± 164 g, d=0.36). Additionally, a comparison of our lean body mass changes with data from a recent meta-analysis by Peterson et al⁵ indicates that the effects of WB-EMS were within the range of those found with conventional resistance exercise, at least with respect to the elderly subgroup of this aging adult cohort. Interestingly, the same was also true after a comparison with high intensity resistance exercise protocols (>70% repetition maximum, as reported in several studies^53–55) in female subjects aged 60 years and older.

Although abdominal fat mass, as assessed by DXA, is a reliable parameter for estimating changes in abdominal obesity,⁵⁶ the corresponding literature is very scarce. The main reason for this lack of data is the limitation of DXA in distinguishing between intra-abdominal and subcutaneous fat. Unfortunately, therefore, only the above-mentioned SEFIP study⁵² was eligible for a dedicated comparison of the effects of WB-EMS versus those of conventional exercise on abdominal body fat as determined by DXA. Surprisingly, the effects of the present WB-EMS trial were comparable, ie, 368 ± 172 g (d=0.63) versus 178 ± 201 g (d=0.70), with those of the SEFIP protocol, which applied a mixed endurance/resistance protocol. Although abdominal body fat measured by DEXA is highly correlated with intraabdominal fat measurement by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),^56,57 we feel unable to discuss in detail to what degree these clinically relevant changes in abdominal fat relate to reductions of the more pathologic visceral fat component.⁵⁸ However, in a recent meta-analysis,⁵⁹ the authors did not determine different effects on the rate of subcutaneous/visceral fat reduction during weight loss when they compared different weight loss interventions (ie, diet, pharmaceuticals, exercise). Thus, there is no evidence that WB-EMS triggers different (more or less pronounced) effects on visceral fat compared with other interventions, including conventional types of exercise.

In addition to assessment of the effect of WB-EMS on appendicular muscle mass and abdominal fat mass, a further aim of this study was to determine the effect of WB-EMS on corresponding local muscle and fat mass of the upper leg, which is a site specifically impacted by the effects of sarcopenia,¹⁹ and also highly relevant for independent living in the aged.¹⁸ The underlying idea behind this approach is the mechanism of sarcopenic muscle loss with concomitant infiltration of fat and connective tissue (myosteatosis).^60,61 We are aware that our DXA-based approach has certain limitations relevant to this issue in that our methods are unable to discriminate between subcutaneous versus intramuscular fat compartments of the upper leg. Allowing for the limitations discussed below, our results indicate favorable effects of WB-EMS with respect to the regional shift of muscle and fat mass in the upper leg.

Besides clinical effectiveness, the most relevant factor for the implementation of a given exercise method or technology is its feasibility and acceptance by subjects, which are key factors for its broad application. Adherence, dropout, and attendance rates in this WB-EMS study ranged in the upper area of exercise trials of comparable duration and number of participants.⁶² Further, the cost of the WB-EMS equipment averaged EUR 8,000; however, taking into account the short duration of electromyostimulation and the resultant flow of users, WB-EMS is still a cost-effective way of improving body composition and corresponding functional ability.

We are aware that some features and limitations of this study may reduce the significance of its results. Two features in particular may give the reader cause for concern. One main limitation is the inclusion of an “active” control group to “blind” participants (and thus to provide a placebo scenario) and to validate that it was electromyostimulation per se and not the slight movements performed during electromyostimulation that affected our study endpoints. To achieve the latter effect, it would have been more appropriate to prescribe the identical setting (ie, 3 × 18 minutes per 2 weeks of slight exercise with WB-EMS equipment and without stimulation) continuously over 54 weeks. This procedure may be feasible and effective in animal studies, but failed in our study. Applying this strategy in a pilot study⁶³ resulted in very unfavorable results for dropout and adherence. Further, the success of blinding was rare, with 18 of 20 subjects reporting that they believed themselves to be in the control group and were performing sham exercise. In this study, blinding was much more successful; however, strict comparability between the two groups with respect to the effect of slight movements per se was limited. In fact, due to the block periodization exercise protocol used in the control group, two main differences with potential impact on our endpoints may exist: although the total volume of “time under load” is comparable between the groups, more frequent but shorter bouts of exercise than applied in the WB-EMS session may be slightly more favorable;⁶⁴ and the 10-week “exercise block” finished 4 weeks before the 54-week follow-up assessment. Thus, if there were a conditioning effect, some deconditioning could occur. However, estimating the relevance of these slight, low amplitude movements per se, we detected no positive impact on muscle mass, strength, or power in a recent study of less lean women of comparable age.¹⁴ However, these subjects were much more sporty, so we cannot completely rule out a positive effect in the more frail persons in this study.

Summing up this important issue:

1. While taking into account that the effect of slight movements per se is doubtful and also the high comparability between the two exercise groups with respect to type, intensity, and total volume of exercise, we conclude that the contribution of exercise to the effects of WB-EMS on muscle and fat parameters is quite low, should it even exist.

2. Although DXA is the gold standard technology for assessing body composition, MRI with its corresponding ability to discriminate between subcutaneous and intra-abdominal fat content may certainly result in more meaningful results with respect to the abdominal region. However, with respect to muscle mass and sarcopenia definition, only DXA and bioimpedance analysis-derived T-scores of appendicular muscle mass were available. Without doubt, additional MRI scans of the upper leg might have provided more insight with respect to changes in the fat and muscle compartments but, as mentioned above, the software programs currently available are (still) unable to analyze or quantify the crucial intramuscular shift of contractile, connective, and fat elements as assessed by MRI or computed tomography techniques.

3. It is debatable whether our eligibility criteria optimally identified the cohort of elderly subjects at risk for sarcopenia and abdominal obesity. This specifically refers to the decision to use the simple Broca Index so that subjects themselves could easily assess their eligibility before contacting the study nurse to declare their interest in joining the study. With respect to abdominal obesity, we applied the rather strict International Diabetes Federation/European Group for the Study of Insulin Resistance criteria of a >80 cm waist circumference for Caucasian women. In hindsight, this cutoff value may have been too restrictive for the aged. Indeed, there is ongoing discussion as to whether waist circumference cutoffs should be dramatically shifted upwards⁶⁵ in order to generate more meaningful and health-related cutoff points for the aged population.⁶⁶

4. We are unable to prescribe the exact stimulation intensity for our WB-EMS protocol in mA. Our corresponding strategy thus focuses on prescription of a range of rates of perceived exertion validated to trigger favorable WB-EMS effects with respect to muscle mass, strength, and power.⁶⁷ Although subjects reported rates of perceived exertion for WB-EMS intensity within our expectations and much effort was placed on participants briefing, conditioning, and interaction, it is difficult to decide clearly whether subjects did in fact achieve the intended exercise intensity during WB-EMS training.

Conclusion

Our results clearly demonstrate that WB-EMS (at least combined with slight movements) applied for 18 minutes per session, on three sessions per 14 days over 12 months, has a beneficial impact on muscle mass and abdominal body fat, and is also safe and feasible, at least in this cohort of lean elderly females with limited interest in exercise. Although WB-EMS was unable to generate all the benefits of multipurpose exercise programs specifically designed for the multimorbid aged,⁶⁸ it can be regarded as an option for subjects unwilling or unable to participate in conventional exercise programs but looking to improve their muscular fitness for independent and healthy aging.