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Chronic effects of superimposed electromyostimulation during cycling on aerobic and anaerobic capacity

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Abstract

Purpose

To examine if chronic endurance training by means of simultaneously applied, superimposed electromyostimulation (EMS) can be used to improve performance and physiological core parameters compared to the traditional cycling.

Methods

Twenty-one male subjects (VO2peak 55.2 ± 5.1 ml min− 1 kg− 1) were assigned to either a cycling (C) or cycling with superimposed EMS (C + E) group. Before and after the 4-week training period, including 14 sessions of moderate cycling [60 min at 60% peak power output (PPO)], participants performed a 20-min time-trial, a step test to exhaustion, a 30-s isokinetic sprint test, and maximum force- and power-tests. Markers of muscle damage and metabolic condition were assessed during the training period.

Results

Step test results revealed increases in PPO, VO2peak, lactate threshold 1, and the anaerobic threshold for both groups (p < 0.05). Mean power output (MPO) obtained from time-trial was improved in C and C + E (p < 0.05). Isokinetic sprint test revealed increased PPO in both groups, whereas MPO was only changed in C (p < 0.05). Strength parameters were unaffected. Although metabolic stimuli and markers of muscle damage were higher in C + E compared to C, improvements of endurance performance and capacity were not significantly different between C and C + E.

Conclusions

Despite a higher metabolic, respiratory, and muscular demand, chronic additional superimposed EMS during cycling does not result in superior improvements in endurance and strength performance compared to the traditional cycling.

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Abbreviations

[La]peak :

Peak blood-lactate concentration

AT:

Anaerobic threshold

C:

Cycling

C + E:

Cycling with superimposed EMS

CK:

Creatine kinase

d:

Cohen’s effect size

dLa/dtmax :

Maximum rate of lactate accumulation

EMS:

Electromyostimulation

Fmax :

Maximum isometric force

LC:

Leg curl

LDH:

Lactate dehydrogenase

LE:

Leg extension

LT1:

Lactate threshold 1

MPO:

Mean power output

PEPS:

Person’s perceived physical state

Pmax :

Maximum isoinertial power

PPO:

Peak power output

VO2 :

Oxygen uptake

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Acknowledgements

We thank all the subjects for their enthusiasm in participating in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Training Science and Sport Informatics, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Muengersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany

    Sebastian Mathes, Niklas Lehnen, Tobias Link, Joachim Mester & Patrick Wahl

  2. The German Research Centre of Elite Sport, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Muengersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany

    Sebastian Mathes, Tobias Link, Wilhelm Bloch, Joachim Mester & Patrick Wahl

  3. Department of Molecular and Cellular Sport Medicine, Institute of Cardiovascular Research and Sport Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Muengersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany

    Wilhelm Bloch & Patrick Wahl

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  1. Sebastian Mathes
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  2. Niklas Lehnen
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  4. Joachim Mester
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Correspondence to Patrick Wahl.

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Communicated by Jean-René Lacour.

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Mathes, S., Lehnen, N., Link, T. et al. Chronic effects of superimposed electromyostimulation during cycling on aerobic and anaerobic capacity. Eur J Appl Physiol 117, 881–892 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3572-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3572-6

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