Quick Overview
University of Jaén scientists tested EMS plus plyometric training in 98 teenage sprinters and hurdlers.
They measured squat jump, counter movement jump, and drop jump across eight weeks, two days a week. Simultaneous 150 Hz EMS lifted squat jump from 26.68 cm to 36.30 cm, 28.02 percent above control. Counter-movement jump reached 37.41 cm. Drop jump reached 55.12 cm. Adherence hit 93 percent.
The peer-reviewed Journal of Sports Science and Medicine study suggests EMS can help serious track athletes, and jump power also matters in other sports. R
ead the full post for every measured score
We always provide direct links to the original research at the end of every article so you can review the evidence yourself.
Teen Sprinters Gained Extra Jump After Eight Weeks of EMS and Plyometrics
Young track athletes want more spring off the ground.
A Spanish research team put that wish to a real test.
They asked a simple question.
Can EMS plus plyometric training lift jump height in teenage sprinters and hurdlers?
That was the purpose of the trial.
The scientists wanted proof, not slogans.
They measured three jumps used in speed sport.
Those tests were the squat jump, counter movement jump, and drop jump.
The work came from the University of Jaén in Spain.
Lead author Emilio J. Martínez-López worked with colleagues in education and health sciences.
One co-author collaborated with the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation.
The paper ran in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine in 2012.
That journal is peer-reviewed.
The protocol had ethics approval under the Declaration of Helsinki.
Spain has a long record in experimental science.
This was sports science, done in a university setting, with named authors and published data.
One hundred and thirteen athletes first volunteered.
Ninety-eight finished the eight-week program.
They were 51 males and 47 females.
Mean age was 17.91 years.
Mean training history was 5.16 years.
All raced 100 m, 200 m, or high hurdles.
They trained in Madrid under federation structures.
None had used EMS before.
Researchers split them into four groups.
The control group did plyometric training only.
Group 1 used 150 Hz EMS at the same time as the jumps.
Group 2 did plyometrics after 85 Hz EMS.
Group 3 switched those two methods across the week.
Sessions ran two evenings a week for eight weeks.
Each EMS bout lasted 12 minutes.
Electrodes targeted the quadriceps.
Intensity sat at the highest level each athlete could tolerate.
Then the numbers arrived.
In the squat jump, Group 1 rose from 26.68 cm to 36.30 cm.
That finished 28.02 percent above the control change.
The control group moved only from 25.32 cm to 27.47 cm.
Group 3 also improved, to 31.67 cm.
Group 2 lagged behind those gains.
In the counter movement jump, Group 1 climbed from 31.33 cm to 37.41 cm.
Researchers reported a 13.67 percent edge over control.
Control finished near 30.95 cm.
The other EMS timings were weaker on this test.
In the drop jump, Group 1 moved from 48.78 cm to 55.12 cm.
Gains versus control showed up from week four.
The sixth week stood out, with a 9.46 percent relative lift.
Control ended at 49.29 cm.
Lower-frequency EMS before the jumps did not match that pattern.
Adherence reached 93 percent.
Three athletes found the current hard to tolerate.
The team reported no injuries at the end.
So what does that mean on the track?
Sprint and hurdle racing demand explosive push, elastic rebound, and fast ground contact.
Those are the exact qualities the three jumps measure.
In this sample, simultaneous 150 Hz EMS plus plyometrics gave the brightest result.
Two sessions a week were enough to move the scores.
The same jump qualities matter beyond one event group.
Volleyball, rugby, tennis, and soccer studies cited in the paper also tracked jump and power after EMS.
This trial does not prove those other sports.
It does show a measured lift in teenage sprint and hurdle athletes.
Power off the ground is useful in many field and court sports.
That is why coaches read jump data across codes.
This post reports published research.
It is not medical advice.
It is not a product claim.
The athletes were trained teenagers under supervised coaching.
EMS here was a training tool in a controlled study.
Results belong to that protocol, those frequencies, and that group.
The bright finding is clear.
When high-frequency EMS ran with the plyometric work, jump height rose.
The squat jump showed the largest relative gain.
The other two jumps also moved in the successful group.
More spring on the tests is the evidence the paper put on the table.
That is the story the measurements tell.
Young sprinters and hurdlers jumped higher after eight weeks.
The strongest protocol paired 150 Hz EMS with the exercises in the same session.
Featured Product
ORIEMS FIT ULTIMATE KIT 💪 is a 100% Australian award-winning product.
Voted YEAR’S BEST ⭐ for 2024 and 2025.
It is a wide-range targeted muscle stimulator enhanced with EMS technology, designed to support your fitness and relaxation routine. 🌟
Trusted by more than 10,000 happy users with over 450 five-star Google reviews. 😊
Check availability.
Product Disclaimer:
This product is designed only to support fitness and relaxation routines. It is not a medical device and has not been evaluated or registered by the TGA. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or medical condition. It may not be suitable for everyone. Please consult your doctor or healthcare practitioner before using it.
Like this Research Digest? 📚
Share it with your friends 💬👇 https://bit.ly/4gYrS5x
About Our Health Research Digest
We bring you the latest and most important health research papers — simplified and easy to understand.
Each study is broken down into clear, concise summaries and engaging podcasts, with direct links to the original research so you can explore further whenever you like.
We also create content based on your requests. If you’re curious about a specific health topic or would like us to find relevant studies, simplify the findings, and turn them into a podcast, just let us know.
Don’t hesitate to reach out — we’re here to help make health research accessible and useful for you. Contact us anytime.
More EMS Research Scientists Are Studying
1. Can EMS reduce fat?
2. Can EMS increase calorie burn while sitting?
3. Can EMS support muscle toning and muscle gains?
4. Can EMS improve athletic training?
5. Can EMS play a role in muscle loss & frailty?
6. Can EMS reduce pain?
7. EMS vs TENS: What are the differences?
8. Can EMS play a role after stroke?
Research Summary
| Item | What the study reported |
|---|---|
| Full title | Effects of electrostimulation and plyometric training program combination on jump height in teenage athletes |
| Authors | Emilio J. Martínez-López, Elisa Benito-Martínez, Fidel Hita-Contreras, Amador Lara-Sánchez, Antonio Martínez-Amat |
| Journal and publisher | Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, peer-reviewed sports science journal |
| Publication record | 2012, volume 11, pages 727–735; received 6 August 2012; accepted 8 October 2012; published online 1 December 2012 |
| Research centres | University of Jaén, Spain (HUM653 laboratory and Department of Health Sciences), with collaboration from the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation |
| Purpose | Test whether an eight-week mix of EMS and plyometric training would raise jump height in young athletes |
| Sports in the trial | 100 m and 200 m sprint, plus 100 m and 110 m hurdles |
| Who took part | 98 teenage athletes finished (51 male, 47 female); mean age 17.91 ± 1.42 years; mean training history 5.16 ± 2.56 years |
| Study design | Randomised controlled trial with pre and post tests; ANCOVA adjusted for weight and height |
| Training groups | Control: plyometrics only. G1: 150 Hz EMS with plyometrics at the same time. G2: plyometrics after 85 Hz EMS. G3: those two methods alternated |
| EMS setup | Megasonic 313-P4 unit; electrodes on vastus lateralis, vastus medialis and rectus femoris; 12-minute sessions at the highest tolerated intensity (about 25–26 mA) |
| Training dose | Two sessions a week for eight weeks during pre-season; usual club training continued on other days |
| Performance tests | Squat jump (explosive), counter movement jump (explosive-elastic), drop jump from 40 cm (explosive-elastic-reactive); best of three attempts |
| Squat jump evidence | G1 rose from 26.68 cm to 36.30 cm; 28.02% above the control change by week 8 |
| Counter movement jump evidence | G1 rose from 31.33 cm to 37.41 cm; researchers reported a 13.67% edge over control at week 8 |
| Drop jump evidence | G1 rose from 48.78 cm to 55.12 cm; differences versus control appeared from week 4 and peaked at week 6 (9.46% relative lift) |
| Weaker protocol | Plyometrics after ≤ 85 Hz EMS did not show a clear extra lift in CMJ or DJ versus control |
| Adherence in the trial | 93% completed the program; 3 intolerance cases (3.1%); no injuries reported at the end |
| Main finding | Simultaneous 150 Hz EMS plus plyometrics improved all three jump types used in sprint and hurdle work; jump power is also used in other sports, though this trial measured track athletes |
| Original study | Full text: jssm.org/vol11/n4/21/v11n4-21text.php · PubMed: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24150085 · PMC: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3763321 |
Disclaimer
This article is published for general information and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, health advice, diagnosis, or treatment of any kind.
All content on this website, including any studies, research, or information mentioned, is provided for informational purposes only and does not imply or guarantee any specific health outcomes.
We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected in any way to any researchers, universities, research centres, journals, or institutions referenced in any article. No reference to any study, researcher, or publication should be interpreted as an endorsement or recommendation of any products sold or featured on this website.
Our products (and any products featured or linked in this article) are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, prevent, or manage any disease or medical condition. Individual results may vary significantly. No guarantees or warranties are made regarding effectiveness, safety, or specific outcomes.
Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any product mentioned on this website or making any changes to your health routine, especially if you have a pre-existing medical condition, are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a pacemaker, or are taking medication.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, ORIEMS FIT, its directors, employees, authors, affiliates, and agents disclaim all liability for any loss, damage, cost, expense, or injury (whether direct, indirect, consequential, special, or incidental) arising from the use of, or reliance upon, any information in this article or from the purchase or use of any products featured or sold on this website.
© [ORIEMS FIT] – All Rights Reserved.
