Neuromuscular electrical stimulation: getting amped up to prevent exercise resistance
Date
2024
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Abstract
Purpose: Exercise resistance (ER) is characterized by the absence of exercise induced improvements in fat metabolism following a meal. The prolonged sedentary behavior between successive workouts is what contributes to this lack of health improvements typically associated with exercise. The suggested energy expenditure (EE) threshold for avoiding ER is the equivalent of walking ~8,500 steps/day. Population data indicate that the typical adult walks 5,000 steps/day. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) evokes skeletal muscle contractions and increases EE. This study aims to determine the feasibility of using NMES to increase total daily EE by the equivalent of 3,500 steps, thereby meeting the theoretical threshold sufficient to prevent ER. Methods: Fourteen recreationally active males and females (7/7) underwent measures of resting EE, with and without NMES, and EE while walking 8,500 steps on a treadmill. The duration of NMES sufficient to increase EE to match 3,500 steps was calculated, and then verified with measures of EE while walking 5,000 steps after a bout of NMES. Results: Bland–Altman statistics of agreement were used to assess concordance between the EE associated with walking 8,500 steps (286 ± 64 kcal; mean ± SD), and the EE associated with walking 5,000 steps after NMES (293 ± 65 kcal). The mean difference between the EE values was 7 kcal, and the 95% limits of agreement were -39 to 53 kcal. Implications: These preliminary data suggest NMES can be used to increase total daily EE by the equivalent of 3,500 steps, thereby meeting the theoretical threshold to prevent ER.
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Embargo expires: 05/20/2025.
Subject
exercise resistance
energy expenditure
neuromuscular electrical stimulation