BACKGROUND: Whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) is a new tendency in training used to complement conventional training. OBJECTIVE(S): The aim was to analyze the effects of training with WB-EMS on body composition, strength and balance in middle-aged women. METHOD(S): Twenty-eight women were randomly assigned to two groups: the WB-EMS group (age 48.1 +/- 4.3 years) or the control group (CG) (age 51.1 +/- 5.4 years). All participants continued their training of 2 days/week and 60 min/day of endurance-dynamic strength exercises and additionally did 20 minutes more of dynamic strength exercises one day/week: the WB-EMS group did the additional training with WB-EMS and the CG did the same training but without WB-EMS. Body composition, muscle isokinetic strength of the knee flexors/extensors and postural stability were measured before and after 8 weeks of training. RESULT(S): After the training program, the WB-EMS group showed lower values for the waist circumference (83.00 +/- 7.37 versus 78.50 +/- 7.30 cm; p < 0.01), hip circumference (104.80 +/- 8.61 versus 101.00 +/- 6.78 cm; p < 0.05) and total fat mass (37.04 +/- 6.08 versus 36.26 +/- 5.78%; p < 0.05). In balance stability the WB-EMS group reduced their Fall Risk Index (1.70 +/- 0.51 versus 1.30 +/- 0.38 AU; p < 0.01) and deviation (1.50 +/- 0.43 versus 1.03 +/- 0.74 AU; p < 0.01) after training and showed lower values in the Fall Risk Index (p = 0.007) and deviation (p = 0.024). CONCLUSION(S): The WB-EMS training program helps reduce the risk of falling and improves body composition variables and balance results in middle-aged physically active women.

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