OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects of whole body electrostimulation (WB-EMS) with body weight training on functional fitness and body composition of older men. METHODS: Twenty physically inactive older men were randomized into: Control group (control), performed the body weight exercise training wearing electrostimulation clothing, but without receiving electrical current stimuli (n = 10), and body weight associated with whole body electrostimulation group (BW+WB-EMS), performed the body weight exercise training wearing electrostimulation clothing plus whole body electrostimulation (n = 10). The training sessions were performed twice a week for 6 weeks and included eight exercises using body weight, performed in two sets of eight repetitions. Physical function was assessed using a battery composed of seven tests, six derived from the Senior fitness test and a handgrip strength test. We also measured the muscle thickness (MT) of the biceps and triceps brachii and vastus lateralis. RESULTS: The BW+WB-EMS group presented increased (p < 0.05) performance in the 30-s chair stand test (10.2 +/- 3.3 versus 13.8 +/- 5.0 reps), arm curl (16.6 +/- 3.9 versus 19.9 +/- 6.1 reps), 6-min walk test (402 +/- 96 versus 500 +/- 104 m), and handgrip strength test (30 +/- 11 versus 32 +/- 11 kgf). The BW+WB-EMS group also presented increased MT (p < 0.05) in the biceps brachii (17.7 +/- 3.0 versus 21.4 +/- 3.4 mm), triceps brachial (14.7 +/- 3.6 versus 17.5 +/- 4.1 mm), and vastus lateralis muscles (15.1 +/- 2.6 versus 18.6 +/- 4.3 mm). Moderate correlations were found in arm curl (p = 0.011, r = 0.552) but not handgrip strength (p = 0.053, r = 0.439) with changes in the biceps MT. Moderate changes in the 6-min walk distance were significantly correlated with changes in vastus lateralis MT (p = 0.036, r = 0.471). There was a moderate correlation between the changes in the 30-s chair stand test (p = 0.006, r = 0.589) and changes in the vastus lateralis MT. Furthermore, although a moderate correlation (r = 0.438) was found between triceps MT and handgrip strength no significant difference (p = 0.053) was reported. Additionally, there were no statistical differences in any parameters for the control group. CONCLUSION: WB-EMS with body weight training increased functional fitness and MT in physically inactive older men.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help

• PubMed Central
• DOI
• PubMed
• PDF locator
• publisher