Zahra Fatahimeiabadi, a graduate scholar within the lab of Sudip Bajpeyi, Ph.D., a professor within the Division of Kinesiology at The College of Texas at El Paso (not pictured), demonstrates a resistance exercise whereas utilizing neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). Credit score: The College of Texas at El Paso
If constructing energy and muscle mass is a part of your New 12 months’s Decision, chances are you’ll wish to add a brand new routine to your exercise.
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), or electrical muscle stimulation for brief, makes use of electrical currents to contract muscle mass. The stimulation units are straightforward to make use of and broadly obtainable available on the market, in response to Sudip Bajpeyi, Ph.D., a professor within the Division of Kinesiology at The College of Texas at El Paso, however he has typically questioned, “Can these stimulators offer any benefits when used during resistance training? What does the research say?”
Properly, the outcomes are in—and they’re promising. In a brand new meta-analysis research printed within the European Journal of Utilized Physiology, Bajpeyi discovered that utilizing NMES whereas doing resistance coaching results in better muscle mass and energy in comparison with resistance coaching alone.
Bajpeyi and his group carried out the meta-analysis comprising greater than a dozen research that used NMES and reviewed their outcomes.
“A meta-analysis provides more comprehensive evidence on studies that explore the same research question,” Bajpeyi defined. “This approach allows us to move beyond the limitations of individual studies and make more informed, evidence-based conclusions.”
Co-authors on the research are Gabriel Narvaez, a not too long ago graduated grasp’s scholar in kinesiology, and Jehu N. Apaflo, a doctoral scholar in interdisciplinary well being sciences.
The group particularly analyzed analysis that mixed NMES with resistance coaching.
The evaluation centered on research the place members carried out conventional resistance workout routines, similar to bench presses or squats, whereas utilizing NMES units. That is whenever you do about eight to 12 repetitions of 1 weight coaching train, relaxation and repeat, Bajpeyi mentioned.
The research in contrast the outcomes of members utilizing electrical stimulators whereas exercising to those that did the workout routines with no electrical stimulation. Individuals’ muscle mass and energy had been assessed at the start and the top of every research. Coaching intervals for members ranged from two to 16 weeks, with longer durations yielding higher outcomes.
“Under normal conditions, the brain activates muscles by sending signals through the nervous system.” Bajpeyi mentioned. “NMES mimics this process by delivering external electrical currents to the nerves, causing the muscles to contract, without input from the brain. Think of it as though your muscles are contracting involuntarily.”
Bajpeyi is the director of the Metabolic Vitamin and Train Analysis (MiNER) lab at UTEP, the place his group research how NMES or different interventions can enhance bodily and metabolic well being. He’s presently investigating how NMES would possibly assist regulate blood glucose ranges and scale back the danger of sort 2 diabetes.
“Exercise is medicine, but not everyone is able or willing to engage in traditional exercise,” he mentioned. “NMES has great potential for improving metabolic health by building muscle mass, which can help the body process blood glucose more effectively.”
Bajpeyi mentioned his NMES research outcomes are forthcoming.
Extra data:
Gabriel Narvaez et al, The additive impact of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and resistance coaching on muscle mass and energy, European Journal of Utilized Physiology (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s00421-024-05700-2
Supplied by
College of Texas at El Paso
Quotation:
Electrifying your exercise can increase muscle mass’ mass and energy, research finds (2025, January 9)
retrieved 9 January 2025
from https://medicalxpress.com/information/2025-01-electrifying-workout-boost-muscles-mass.html
This doc is topic to copyright. Aside from any honest dealing for the aim of personal research or analysis, no
half could also be reproduced with out the written permission. The content material is supplied for data functions solely.
