Burn More Calorie in Less Time? The Truth About Whole-Body EMS

person Savannah Martin
calendar_today Sep 08, 2025
comment 0 comments

Welcome to another post of our ORIEMS FIT RESEARCH DIGEST blog series.

Every week we uncover one more legit study. Most outlets only repeat research approved by corporations and the wealthy — we don’t. We explain it so simply that anyone, 14 or 70, can follow.

Many studies stay hidden because they threaten profit, control, or power. Our mission is to break those walls, spotlight honest scientists, and cut the jargon so you see what really matters.

At the end, you’ll always get the original study link — to collect, download, or fact-check. Got a topic you care about? Email us, and we’ll dig up the latest hidden research with the source link included.

The Story

This study came from the Institute of Medical Physics, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg in Germany, together with the Human Performance Lab at Truman State University, USA. Both are highly respected — Erlangen is world-class in sports medicine, and Truman is well-known for exercise physiology.

The researchers — Wolfgang Kemmler, Simon von Stengel, Johannes Schwarz, and Jerry L. Mayhew — wanted to test a simple but powerful question:

👉 Does Whole-Body Electrical Muscle Stimulation (WB-EMS) actually increase energy burn during exercise?

Nineteen recreationally active men aged 20–40 joined. They weren’t elite athletes — just moderately trained, exercising 5–8 hours per week. Each man did two 16-minute low-intensity workouts: one with Whole Body-EMS and one without. The order was randomized, and the tests were separated by at least 4 days to avoid overlap.

The Whole Body EMS used 85 Hz pulses, cycling 4 seconds on and 4 seconds off, stimulating 16 major muscle regions — legs, arms, abs, chest, shoulders, and back — all at once.

What Did They Discover?

Energy Burn:
During Whole Body-EMS, participants burned an average of 412 kcal per hour, compared to 352 kcal per hour without EMS. That’s a 17% increase in calorie burn
Effort:
On the Borg scale of perceived exertion (1 = very easy, 20 = maximum effort), participants rated Whole Body-EMS at 14.7 (“hard”), versus 11.9 (“moderate”) without EMS
Safety:
No injuries or side effects occurred during the sessions.

The researchers noted that even though the measured increase was significant, it might actually underestimate the real metabolic impact — because traditional methods like indirect calorimetry can miss “above steady state” energy demand.

Why Does This Matter?

Athletes and trainers: 17% more calories per session means Whole Body-EMS could be layered into light workouts to boost efficiency without adding heavy loads.
People with limited mobility: The technology allows major muscle groups to activate while doing only gentle movements — perfect for those who can’t train hard.
Busy people: A 16-minute workout with Whole Body-EMS can equal or surpass longer sessions without it. That’s huge for anyone pressed for time.
People living with pain or avoiding strain: Whole Body-EMS delivers intensity without the joint stress of traditional high-impact exercise.
Weight management seekers: More energy burned per session means better chances of creating a calorie deficit with less effort.

Study Summary

Question	Answer
What Was the Study About?	Whether Whole Body-EMS boosts calorie burn during exercise compared to regular training.
Who Took Part?	19 healthy men, ages 20–40, moderately active.
How Did They Test It?	16-minute low-intensity workouts, once with Whole Body-EMS and once without, crossover design.
What Did They Find?	17% higher calorie burn (412 vs. 352 kcal/hr) and higher effort ratings with Whole Body-EMS.

Research Reference Section

Original Paper Name: Effect of Whole-Body Electromyostimulation on Energy Expenditure During Exercise
Simplified Title: Whole-Body EMS Burns More Calories During Workouts
Authors: Wolfgang Kemmler, Simon von Stengel, Johannes Schwarz, Jerry L. Mayhew
Year: 2012
Institutes: University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (Germany), Truman State University (USA)
Link to Study: DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e31821a3a11

ORIEMS FIT Mission Reminder

This blog is part of the ORIEMS FIT RESEARCH DIGEST series. Our mission: make hidden studies accessible, strip away jargon, and inspire curiosity.

Brand Message

ORIEMS FIT is a 100% Australian Award-Winning Brand, named YEARS’ BEST by ProductReview.com.au in both 2024 and 2025, surpassing 68,000 nominees in a very tense competition.

The ProductReview.com.au award is completely independent, based only on real customer reviews and ratings, not commercial deals. This recognition proves Australians trust and recommend ORIEMS FIT.

And the trust doesn’t stop there:

⭐ 470+ Google Reviews with 5 stars.

We design Wide-Range Targeted Muscle Stimulators inspired by EMS technology insight — a tool to enhance fitness and relaxation routines. But our work goes beyond products — we share the latest research papers, the hard work of honest scientists, making suppressed research easy to understand.

🔗 Check Product Availability

🛒 Featured Product

Original Oriems Ultimate Kit

Product Disclaimer: This product is designed for general wellness and fitness purposes only. It is not a medical device and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Disclaimer

This blog post is for informational and recreational purposes only. It is not medical advice. ORIEMS FIT does not diagnose, treat, or recommend. Research results apply only to the participants studied and may not apply to everyone. Electrical stimulation devices may not be suitable for all people. Risks can include muscle soreness, skin irritation, or discomfort if misused. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting or changing any treatment, exercise program, or device use. Reading this blog is not a substitute for professional medical care. For full details, visit: ORIEMS Disclaimer.