Quick Overview
French scientists tested EMS on the latissimus dorsi of 14 competitive swimmers.
Seven received three 12-minute sessions weekly for three weeks. Using an isokinetic dynamometer they measured peak torque gains of +21% isometric and +24.1% eccentric.
The EMS group cut 0.19 seconds from 25-metre pull-buoy and 0.38 seconds from 50-metre freestyle times while stroke length rose 0.05 metres.
These factual gains link stronger pull power to faster sprints. Published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise by universities in Dijon and Saint-Etienne, the peer-reviewed work remains solid.
Readers seeking the full data and deeper insights will want the complete blog post.
We always provide direct links to the original research at the end of every article so you can review the evidence yourself.
How Stimulating the Latissimus Dorsi Helped Swimmers Perform Better
Competitive swimmers always hunt for that extra edge in the pool.
A team of French sports scientists decided to test one bold idea.
They asked a simple question.
Could targeted electrical stimulation of a key swimming muscle boost both strength and race times?
The answer they found still shines today.
Researchers from the Université de Bourgogne in Dijon and the Faculté de Médecine in Saint-Etienne ran a clear study.
Fourteen competitive swimmers took part.
Ten raced at national level.
Four competed regionally.
They trained about 8.5 hours each week.
The group split evenly.
Seven swimmers received electrostimulation.
Seven stayed as controls.
Both groups kept the same pool training.
Only the EMS group added extra sessions.
Three times a week for three weeks.
Each session lasted just 12 minutes.
They stimulated the latissimus dorsi muscle on both sides.
That big back muscle powers the pull in freestyle.
Swimmers lay on a bench with arms slightly forward.
The machine delivered 80-Hz pulses.
Each contraction lasted six seconds.
Then came 20 seconds of rest.
Twenty-seven contractions filled every session.
Intensity stayed around 60 percent of their maximum voluntary effort.
Before and after the three weeks, scientists measured arm strength.
They used a precise isokinetic dynamometer.
Tests covered isometric, eccentric and concentric actions.
Speeds ranged from slow to very fast.
They also timed two sprint swims.
One was a 25-metre pull-buoy effort using only the arms.
The other was a full 50-metre freestyle.
Stroke rate and stroke length got measured too.
Results for the EMS group looked strong.
Isometric peak torque rose by 21 percent.
Eccentric peak torque at the slowest speed climbed 24.1 percent.
Concentric gains appeared at higher speeds.
They reached 10.3 percent at 180 degrees per second.
They hit 14.4 percent at 300 degrees per second.
They climbed 14.7 percent at 360 degrees per second.
The control group showed no meaningful strength changes.
In the pool the picture stayed bright.
The EMS swimmers cut 0.19 seconds from their 25-metre pull-buoy time.
They shaved 0.38 seconds off the 50-metre freestyle.
Stroke length grew by 0.05 metres per cycle.
Stroke rate stayed steady.
Across the whole group, gains in eccentric strength linked clearly to better race times.
The correlation reached 0.77.
That link makes sense.
Sprint swimming rewards explosive force and fast-twitch fibres.
Electrical stimulation can recruit those fibres in a unique way.
The study appeared in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.
That journal belongs to the American College of Sports Medicine.
It ranks among the most respected voices in exercise science.
France itself carries a long record of careful physiological research.
The universities involved are established centres of movement science.
Every detail sits in a peer-reviewed paper from 1995.
When a blog draws on this work, the foundation stays solid.
The findings show one focused EMS programme can lift latissimus dorsi strength.
It can also trim sprint times and lengthen each stroke.
For competitive swimmers seeking measurable progress, these numbers offer real encouragement.
The bright side of targeted electrical stimulation remains clear.
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/4hIC4zI
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
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Title | Electrical stimulation and swimming performance |
| Authors | Florence Pichon, Jean-Claude Chatard, Alain Martin, Gilles Cometti |
| Institutions | Université de Bourgogne (Dijon) and Faculté de Médecine de Saint-Etienne, France |
| Journal & Year | Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, Vol. 27, No. 12, pp. 1671–1676, 1995 |
| Study Purpose | Examine the effect of a 3-week electrostimulation programme on latissimus dorsi strength and swimming performance |
| Participants | 14 competitive swimmers (10 national level, 4 regional) divided into 7 electrostimulated and 7 control |
| Weekly Training Load | All swimmers completed approximately 8.5 hours of pool training per week |
| EMS Protocol Duration | 3 weeks with 3 sessions per week, each lasting 12 minutes |
| Stimulation Parameters | 80 Hz frequency, 300 µs pulse duration, 6-second contractions followed by 20-second rest (27 contractions per session at ~60% maximal voluntary contraction) |
| Target Muscle | Both latissimus dorsi muscles stimulated simultaneously |
| Strength Measurement | Peak torque of arm flexion-extension measured with a Biodex isokinetic dynamometer across isometric, eccentric and concentric conditions (−60°/s to 360°/s) |
| Strength Results (EMS Group) | Significant increases: +21% isometric, +24.1% eccentric at −60°/s, and +10.3% to +14.7% concentric at higher velocities |
| Swimming Performance Results | EMS group improved by 0.19 ± 0.14 s on 25 m pull-buoy and 0.38 ± 0.24 s on 50 m freestyle |
| Biomechanical Change | Stroke length increased by 0.05 m per cycle in the EMS group while stroke rate remained unchanged |
| Key Correlation & Conclusion | Eccentric peak-torque gains correlated with performance improvements (r = 0.77); electrostimulation of the latissimus dorsi increased both strength and swimming performance compared with the control group |
| Original Study Link | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8614324/ |
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.
