Foot pain is everywhere. Plantar fasciitis. Heel spurs. Collapsed arches.
But what if the real story sits deep inside your foot — in the tiny intrinsic foot muscles most people never train?
Today, in our ORIEMS FIT Research Digest, we explore a peer-reviewed study published in The Foot journal that asked a powerful question:
Can neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) increase intrinsic foot muscle strength?
And we always provide the original study link at the end of every post — so you can read the science yourself.
What Did The Researchers Actually Do?
Researchers from Chemnitz University of Technology, Germany tested whether 8 weeks of neuromuscular electrostimulation could strengthen the abductor hallucis muscle — one of the most important intrinsic foot muscles.
The full study can be viewed here:
Participants
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74 healthy adults
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Divided into:
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NMES group
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Running in minimal shoes group
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Passive control group
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What They Measured
They didn’t guess. They measured:
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Muscle size (cross-sectional area via ultrasound)
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Arch stability (navicular drop test)
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Muscle fatigue after treadmill running
What Did They Find?
After 8 weeks:
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The minimal shoe running group increased muscle size by 16.3%
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The NMES group did not show statistically significant muscle growth
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Arch stability tests did not clearly reflect muscle changes
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Fatigue measures did not significantly differ between groups
The researchers concluded that:
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NMES effects in healthy active individuals may be too small to detect
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The static navicular drop test may not be sensitive enough to measure intrinsic foot strength
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More precise measurement tools are needed in future research
Why This Matters
Intrinsic foot muscles are crucial for:
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Supporting the arch
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Absorbing shock
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Assisting balance
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Controlling foot motion
Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS/NMES) works by sending controlled electrical impulses to stimulate muscle contractions.
EMS is already well-established in:
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Quadriceps rehabilitation
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Post-surgery muscle preservation
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Situations where voluntary exercise is limited
This study suggests NMES may be more beneficial in immobilised or rehabilitation settings, rather than in already active, healthy adults.
That is clinically important.
FULL STUDY SUMMARY TABLE
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Study Title | Does neuromuscular electrostimulation have the potential to increase intrinsic foot muscle strength? |
| Authors | Florian Ebrecht, Freddy Sichting |
| Research Centre | Department of Human Locomotion, Chemnitz University of Technology |
| Country | Germany |
| Study Design | 8-week controlled intervention study |
| Participants | 74 healthy adults (37 male, 37 female) |
| Groups | NMES (n=19), Running Minimal Shoes (n=40), Passive Control (n=15) |
| Intervention Frequency | 2 sessions per week for 8 weeks |
| NMES Settings | 85 Hz, 4s contraction, 8s rest, 15 min sessions |
| Primary Muscle Studied | Abductor Hallucis (intrinsic foot muscle) |
| Measurement Tools | Ultrasound (CSA), Navicular Drop Test, Fatigue Test |
| Main Findings | No significant strengthening effect of NMES in healthy adults |
| Statistical Significance | p=0.203 (CSA), p=0.073 (arch stability), p=0.892 (fatigue) |
| Effect Size (Running vs Control) | Cohen’s d = 0.801 (large) |
| Funding | Minimal shoes supplied by leguano® (no influence on study design) |
| Conflicts of Interest | None declared |
| Journal | The Foot |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Year | 2018 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foot.2018.01.006 |
| Original Study Link | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0958259217302286 |
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Disclaimer
This article is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It summarises independent scientific research and does not constitute medical advice.
ORIEMS FIT does not claim to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Any reference to electrical muscle stimulation reflects published research findings and does not imply endorsement, sponsorship, or clinical recommendation.
Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making decisions regarding medical treatment, rehabilitation, or device use.
ORIEMS FIT is not affiliated with the researchers, journal, or publisher of this study.
At ORIEMS FIT Research Digest, we believe in something simple:
Always follow the data. Always show the source. Always let readers decide.
