Table 1.
Study and intervention characteristics of the included studies (n = 16).
| References | Study design | Sample size (n) | Status | Sex, Age MV ± SD | Control group | Intervention | Main outcomes | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellia et al. (2020) | RCT, parallel group | EMS: 10 CG: 11 |
MetS, Obesity, physically active, untrained | ♀ + ♂ 50 ± 7 yrs. | Diet (caloric restriction −600 kcal/d) | Combined diet (-600 kcal/d) and WB-EMS. 1-3x 20 min/week (first 12 weeks), 2 × 20 min/w (last 14 weeks) for 26 weeks (Actiwave, Gyor, Hungary): 15 min, 85 Hz, 400 μs, 0.3 s ramp, 4s−4s, 5 min 14 Hz, 10 s – 15 s, intensity: RPE 6-7 (Borg CR10), active EMS with movements with small tools (e.g., elastic bands). | Body composition, cardiometabolic risk factors | Energy restriction in both groups |
| Jee (2019) | RCT, parallel group | L-Int: 13 M-Int: 14 H-Int: 14 CG: 13 |
Healthy, physically active, untrained | ♂ 20–29 yrs. | Same exercises without EMS (placebo) | 3× 20 min/week for 6 weeks (Miracle, Seoul, Korea), 85 Hz, rectangular, 350 μs, 6-4s, active WB-EMS with 10 moderate intense isometric exercises, intensity: 50% (L-Int) vs. 60% (M-Int) vs. 80% of maximum impulse tolerance (MT) (H-Int). | Body composition, adipokines, leg strength (KE) | Dose response study for “intensity” |
| Kemmler et al. (2010b, 2015) | RCT, parallel group | 15/15 | Healthy, moderately trained | ♀ 66 ± 6 yrs. | Maintain exercise | 1.5 sessions/w., 14 w (miha bodytec, Gersthofen, Germany), 10 min bipolar, rectangular, 350 μs; 10 min with 85 Hz. 4s impulse - 4s rest, and 10 min with 7 Hz. continuous impulse; intensity: RPE 6–7 (hard+ to very hard; Borg CR-10), active WB-EMS with 1–2 sets, 10 exercises, 6-8 reps during impulse phases in a standing position. | Body composition, leg strength (LP), trunk strength, RMR | |
| Kemmler et al. (2010a, 2015) | RCT, parallel group | 14/14 | MetS, physically active, untrained | ♂ 69 ± 3 yrs. | Semi-active: Low-intensity whole-body vibration | 1.5× 25 min/w.; 14 w (miha bodytec), 10 min on cross-trainer (70% VO2peak), bipolar, rectangular, 85 Hz, 350 μs; continuous impulse and 15 min active WB-EMS with 2 sets, 7 exercise, 6–8 reps, bipolar, rectangular, 85 Hz, 350 μs, 4s – 4 s; intensity: RPE 6-7 (hard+ to very hard, Borg CR10). | Body composition, leg strength (LP) | |
| Kemmler et al. (2014, 2015) | RCT, parallel group | 38/38 | Osteopenia, low muscle mass untrained | ♀ 75 ± 5 yrs. | Semi-active: wellness | 1.5× 20 min/w., 12 months (miha bodytec), bipolar, rectangular, 85 Hz, 350 μs, 4−6 s impulse – 4 s rest; intensity: RPE 6–7 (hard+ to very hard, Borg CR-10); 1–2 sets of 8-12 movements with 6–8 reps during the impulse phases; CG: 2× 10 weeks with one session/w. low-intensity exercises for well-being | Body composition, BMD, leg strength (LP) | |
| Kemmler and von Stengel (2013) | RCT, parallel group | 23/23 | See above, +abdomin. obesity | ♀ 75 ± 5 yrs. | Semi-active: wellness | See (Kemmler et al., 2014, 2015), however, only subjects with waist circumferences >80 cm were included | Total and regional body composition, leg strength (LP) | Sub-analysis TEST III-study |
| Kemmler et al. (2016c,d) | RCT, parallel group | 25/25 | Sarcopenic Obesity, physically active, untrained | ♀, 77 ± 4 yrs. | Inactive | 1× 20 min/w., 26 weeks (miha bodytec), bipolar, rectangular, 85 Hz, 350 μs, 4-6 s impulse – 4 s rest; intensity: RPE 5-6 (hard-hard+, Borg CR-10), active WB-EMS with 1-2 sets of 12 low intense movements during the impulse phase. with 6-8 reps in a supine position | Body compos. leg (LP) and back strength, MetS | |
| Kemmler et al. (2017b, 2018a) | RCT, parallel group | 33/34 | Sarcopenic Obesity, physically active, untrained | ♂, 77 ± 5 yrs. | Inactive | 1.5× 20 min/w., 16 weeks (miha bodytec), bipolar, rectangular, 85 Hz, 350 μs, 6 s impulse – 4 s rest; intensity: RPE 6–7 (hard+ to very hard, Borg CR-10), active WB-EMS: 1–2 sets of 12 movements with 6–8 reps during impulse phases. | Total/ regional body composition, leg (LP) and trunk strength, MetS, Renal function | |
| Kim and Jee (2020) | RCT, parallel group | 15/15 | Obesity, physically active, untrained | ♀, 71 ± 3 yrs. | Same exercises without EMS (placebo) | 3× 40 (?) min/w. for 8 weeks (Miracle, Seoul, Korea), bipolar, rectangular, 85 Hz, 350 μs, 6–4s, intensity: 60–80% MT, active WB-EMS during (aerobic) exercise with music | Body composition, biomarkers | Adjuvant moderate intensity exercise |
| Ludwig et al. (2019) | RCT, parallel group | 20 Hz: 19 85 Hz: 19 CG: 15 |
Healthy, physically active, Untrained | ♀ + ♂ 25 ± 4 yrs. |
Inactive | 1.5× 20 min/w., for 10 weeks (miha bodytec), bipolar, 20 “vs.” 85 Hz, 350 μs, 4–4s, rectangular, intensity: RPE: 6–7, active WB-EMS with 9 low intensity movements/exercises, 12–15 reps (partially unilateral) during impulse phases. | Trunk-strength, -power, body posture | Dose-response study: 20 vs. 85 Hz. |
| Ricci et al. (2020) | RCT, parallel group | 10/10 | Obesity, Bariatric surgery untrained | ♀ + ♂ 18–50 yrs. |
Same exercises without EMS (placebo) | 5× 12-15 min/w., 6 weeks (miha bodytec), bipolar, 85 Hz, 350 μs, 6 s impulse – 4 s rest, 3× 15 min/w. and 30 Hz, 350 μs, 4–10 s, 2× 12 min/w.; intensity n.g., active WB-EMS with 10 low intensity exercises during impulse phases. | Body composition, endurance | WB-EMS after bariatric surgery |
| Schink et al. (2018) | NCT, parallel group | 96/35 | Advanced tumor Sedentary untrained | ♀ + ♂ 60 ± 13 yrs. |
Inactive | 2× 20 min/w., 12 weeks (miha bodytec), bipolar, 80 Hz, 350 μs, rectangular, 6 s impulse – 4 s rest; intensity: RPE 5-6, active WB-EMS with 7 low-intensity movements, 2 sets, 8-12 reps during impulse phases. | Body composition, endurance, renal function | |
| Vatter (2003, 2010) | NCT, parallel group | 134/10 | Healthy, trained | ♀ + ♂ 43 ± 12 yrs. |
Maintain exercise | 2× 45 min/w., 6 weeks (body transformer, GPL-Concept, Germany), bipolar, 85 Hz, rectangular, 350 μs, 4s impulse - 4s rest, intensity: RPE at threshold tolerance; 12 isometric exercises. | Body composition, upper back strength, low back pain | |
| Weissenfels et al. (2018) | RCT, parallel group | 15/15 | Back pain, physically active, untrained | ♀ + ♂ 40–70 yrs. |
Inactive | 1× 20 min/w., 12 weeks (miha bodytec), bipolar, 85 Hz, 350 μs, rectangular, 6s−4 s, intensity, RPE: 5–7 (hard-very hard, Borg CR10), 6 low-intensity back specific movements, 2–3 sets, 6 reps during impulse phases | Trunk strength, low back pain |
CG, Control group; KE, Knee extension; LP, Leg press; L-, M-, H-Int, low-, moderate-, high-intensity; MetS, Metabolic Syndrome; MT, Maximum impulse tolerance; NCT, Non-randomized controlled trial; n.g., not given; RPE, Rate of received exertion; RCT, Randomized controlled trial, RT, Resistance training. Bold: Impulse parameters of the WB-EMS protocol.