Does Combined Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Gastrocnemius Muscle Training Improve Neuromuscular Response and Sports Performance?
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: The quadricep muscles are commonly targeted for electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), while the gastrocnemius muscles, despite their crucial role in push-off, are often overlooked. The purpose was to investigate whether incorporating EMS into gastrocnemius training could optimize athletic performance. Two groups of athletes received regular gastrocnemius training (Training-only) or combined EMS into training (Training + EMS) over four weeks. The sprint time, jump height, take-off ground reaction forces, ankle and knee joint power, and electromyography were assessed before and after the training sessions. Two-way ANOVA with repeated measures was performed to determine any significant effect. Both training-only and training + EMS groups showed increased jump height and faster sprint time after training ([Formula: see text]). The participants in the two groups also generated higher take-off force and larger ankle and knee powers after training ([Formula: see text]). EMS adds no significant improvement in performance outcomes ([Formula: see text]). This study implicates that both training-only and training + EMS can enhance sports performance and take-off force and lower-limb joint powers of the athletes, but the use of EMS can only induce minimal added improvements on gastrocnemius training.
Authors: FAN YANG, SHENG-WEI JIA, QIANG WEI, JIN TENG, WING-KAI LAM, SHAOFENG YANG, YI ZHENG
Language: English
Subfield: Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4402920677