Quick Overview
Korean scientists at Silla University studied eight athletes with disabilities for eight weeks.
Six had paraplegia. They wore a full body EMS system twice weekly during seated chest presses.
Researchers used EMG to track muscle activity and gas analysis for VO₂ plus energy burn.
Right chest activity rose from 58% to 75%. Left side climbed from 63% to 93%. VO₂ jumped 44% to 646 ml/min. Energy per minute also rose.
These clear numbers suggest regular electromyostimulation can help wheelchair users and Paralympic athletes gain stronger upper-body function and higher energy output.
Published in a peer-reviewed MDPI journal, the work is solid. Read the full post for every measured result.
We always provide direct links to the original research at the end of every article so you can review the evidence yourself.
EMS Training Boosted Muscle Activity and Energy Use in Paralympic Athletes
Eight athletes with disabilities trained hard for the Paralympics. Six lived with paraplegia. Two faced other physical challenges. Most used wheelchairs in daily life and sport.
They competed in swimming, weightlifting and running. Yet upper-body strength and energy use often lagged.
A team from the Division of Kinesiology at Silla University in Busan, South Korea, stepped in. These trusted scientists designed a clear eight-week study. It was published in 2023 by MDPI in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Korea has a long, respected record in sports science. This gives the findings solid ground.
The athletes wore an full body EMS system twice a week. Electromyostimulation targeted the pectoralis major and triceps. Sessions lasted one hour. Stimulation ran at 25 Hz for 15 minutes, then 5 Hz for five minutes.
Researchers measured real progress with seated chest presses. They tracked muscle activity, left-right balance and breathing gases.
Muscle activity rose clearly. Right pectoralis major climbed from 58 % to 75 %. Left side jumped from 63 % to 93 %. Right triceps soared from 57 % to 99 %. Right forearm muscles moved from 50 % to 75 %.
Symmetry between left and right sides also improved. The gap narrowed in the chest and arm muscles.
Breathing results shone too. VO2 increased from 449 to 646 ml per minute. That is a 44 % rise in oxygen use. Carbon dioxide output climbed from 407 to 611 ml per minute. METs rose from 2.1 to 3.1. Energy burned each minute jumped from 2.2 to 3.2 kcal.
These numbers show EMS helped the athletes work harder and more efficiently. Regular sessions built stronger upper-body signals. They also lifted energy expenditure and heart-lung response during effort.
The study suggests frequent EMS use can support wheelchair users. It can help athletes who train and compete from wheelchairs. Gains appeared in muscle function and daily energy use. More consistent sessions brought clearer benefits.
This research comes from university scientists. It followed ethics approval and careful measurement. The journal is peer-reviewed and widely read. That is why the evidence stands on firm ground.
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Research Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full title | Effects of 8-Week Electromyostimulation Training on Upper-Limb Muscle Activity and Respiratory Gas Analysis in Athletes with Disabilities |
| Authors | Jongbin Kim, Joonsung Park, Jeongok Yang, Youngsoo Kim, Inhyung Kim, Himchan Shim, Changho Jang, Mincheol Kim, Myeongcheol Kim, Bomjin Lee |
| Institution | Division of Kinesiology, Silla University, Busan, Republic of Korea |
| Journal | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (MDPI) |
| Publication year | 2023 |
| DOI / Original study link | https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010299 |
| Participants | Eight professional male athletes with disabilities |
| Disability profile | Six with paraplegia and two with other physical disabilities |
| Average age, height, weight | 42.00 ± 8.67 years, 1.65 ± 0.16 m, 64.00 ± 8.72 kg |
| Athletic background | Swimming, weightlifting and running; average career length 11.75 ± 3.83 years; National Paralympic Games competitors |
| Training duration and frequency | 8 weeks, twice per week, one-hour sessions |
| EMS protocol | A full body EMS system applied to pectoralis major and triceps at 25 Hz (duty cycle 10%) for 15 minutes then 5 Hz (duty cycle 5%) for 5 minutes |
| Test exercise | Seated chest press (three sets of five repetitions) |
| Main measurements | Muscle activity (EMG on pectoralis major, triceps and antebrachial muscles), left-to-right symmetry index, and respiratory gas variables (VO₂, VCO₂, RQ, METs, energy expenditure per minute) |
| Key positive findings | Significant rises in right and left pectoralis major activity, right triceps activity, right antebrachial activity, VO₂ (448.79 to 645.69 mL/min), VCO₂, METs (2.09 to 3.05) and energy expenditure per minute (2.20 to 3.19 kcal/min) |
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