Clinical Applications & Efficacy:
Primary Use Cases: Effective for muscle rebuilding in post-injury healthy individuals and for combating severe atrophy in patients contraindicated for conventional exercise.
Documented Outcomes: After a 5–6 week regimen, typical results include ~1% muscle mass increase and 10–15% functional improvement.
Safety Profile: Deemed a safe intervention despite an initial, transient spike in circulating creatine kinase.
Optimal Protocol Parameters:
Intensity: As high as personally tolerable.
Pulse & Frequency: Large pulses (300–450 μs); high frequency (50-100 Hz for young, ~30 Hz for older adults).
Session Frequency & Duration: Minimum of 3 sessions/week for 5–6 weeks.
Key Advantages & Considerations:
Demonstrates particular efficacy in improving functional performance and counteracting sarcopenia-related fast-twitch fiber atrophy.
The additive benefit of combining EMS with voluntary training for superior gains is still under discussion.
Critical Note: EMS is a complementary modality, not a replacement for exercise, which provides indispensable cardiovascular, endothelial, and cognitive benefits.
