Quick Overview
Scientists at the German Sport University Cologne tested whole-body electrostimulation on 22 professional soccer players during a competitive season. Over 14 weeks they measured one-leg maximal strength, 5-metre sprinting, direction-change speed, squat jump height and kicking velocity twice weekly alongside normal training.
The EMS group improved clearly: strength rose from 1.66 to 1.99 kg/kg, 5m times dropped to 1.01 seconds, jumps reached 38.8 cm and one-step kicks hit 93.8 km/h. The control group showed no gains.
These results suggest whole-body EMS can help national soccer players build explosive power and match-ready performance without extra heavy gym loads. The peer-reviewed study from a leading European sports science centre makes the evidence trustworthy.
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How Elite Soccer Players Got Stronger, Faster and Kicked Harder with Whole-Body EMS
In the fast world of elite football, every edge matters. Players cover more high-speed ground than ever. Explosive sprints, sharp turns and powerful kicks decide matches.
Yet the training load stays high all season. Adding heavy gym work risks fatigue or injury. Scientists looked for a smarter way.
They turned to whole-body electrostimulation.
Researchers at the German Sport University Cologne led the work. This is one of Europe’s top centres for sports science. Germany has a long record of careful, high-quality research. The team came from the Institute of Sport Science and the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Sport Medicine. Their study appeared in the peer-reviewed Journal of Sports Science and Medicine.
Twenty-two professional field players took part. All competed in the German fourth division. They already trained six or seven times each week plus matches.
Half the group used dynamic whole-body electrostimulation twice a week. They performed maximal squat jumps while the device activated key muscle groups. The other half did the same jumps without stimulation. Both groups kept their normal soccer training for 14 weeks during the competitive season.
The results stood out clearly.
Players using whole-body electrostimulation grew stronger. One-leg maximal strength on the leg press rose from 1.66 to 1.99 kilograms per kilogram of body weight. That change reached statistical significance.
Short linear sprinting improved. Five-metre times dropped from 1.04 to 1.01 seconds.
Sprints with direction changes also got faster. Times fell from 3.25 to 3.07 seconds.
Vertical jumping rose. Squat jump height increased from 35.9 to 38.8 centimetres.
Kicking velocity jumped too. One-step shots rose from 83.9 to 93.8 kilometres per hour.
The jump-only group showed no meaningful gains in these areas.
The whole-body electrostimulation sessions added a strong training signal. Creatine kinase levels rose after sessions, showing the muscles worked hard. No rise in IGF-1 appeared, and body weight stayed steady.
These gains came while players continued their full soccer schedule. Strength, speed, agility and power all moved forward.
The study shows that two focused sessions each week can support key soccer abilities. Whole-body electrostimulation offers a practical way to build these qualities during the season. Consistent use helps players stay explosive when it counts most.
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Research Summary
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Title | Effects of a Whole-Body Electrostimulation Program on Strength, Sprinting, Jumping, and Kicking Capacity in Elite Soccer Players |
| Lead Authors | Andre Filipovic, Marijke Grau, Heinz Kleinöder, Philipp Zimmer, Wildor Hollmann, Wilhelm Bloch |
| Research Centre | German Sport University Cologne (Institute of Sport Science and Sport Informatics & Institute of Molecular and Cellular Sport Medicine) |
| Journal | Journal of Sports Science and Medicine |
| Publication Date | Published online 1 December 2016 (Volume 15, pages 639–648) |
| Study Design | 14-week randomised training study during the competitive season |
| Participants | 22 professional male field players from the 4th division of the German Soccer Federation |
| Groups | WB-EMS group (n=12) and jump-training control group (n=10) |
| Training Frequency | Two sessions per week added to 6–7 regular soccer training sessions plus matches |
| Intervention | Dynamic whole-body electrostimulation combined with maximal squat jumps (control group performed identical jumps without EMS) |
| Strength Outcome | One-leg maximal strength (1RM leg press) improved significantly to 1.99 kg/kg versus 1.66 kg/kg |
| Sprint Outcome | 5 m linear sprint improved to 1.01 s versus 1.04 s; direction-change sprint improved to 3.07 s versus 3.25 s |
| Jump Outcome | Squat jump height increased to 38.8 cm versus 35.9 cm |
| Kicking Outcome | One-step kicking velocity rose to 93.8 km/h versus 83.9 km/h |
| Original Study Link | https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5131218/ |
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