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This study evaluates the effects of a 8-week lower body Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) training program on body composition, muscle function, and arteriosclerosis markers in postmenopausal women.
Menopause is associated with a rapid decline in estrogen, which increases the risk of sarcopenia (muscle loss) and arterial stiffness (cardiovascular disease). While resistance training is effective for these conditions, participation rates among postmenopausal women are often low. This study investigates whether applying EMS during lower body resistance exercises provides superior benefits compared to resistance training alone or no intervention.
Participants will be randomized into three groups:
The study aims to verify the efficacy of EMS as a time-efficient and effective alternative exercise modality for improving vascular and musculoskeletal health in this population.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Body EMS + Resistance Training Group | Experimental | Participants perform lower body resistance training while wearing a lower body EMS suit. Each session lasts 50 minutes (10-min warm-up, 30-min main exercise, 10-min cool-down). EMS stimulation is applied exclusively during the 30-minute main exercise phase (85Hz, 350µs). This program is conducted twice a week for 8 weeks. |
|
| Resistance Training Only Group | Active Comparator | Participants perform the identical lower body resistance training program without EMS stimulation. The session structure (10-min warm-up, 30-min main exercise, 10-min cool-down) and total duration (50 minutes) are the same as the experimental group. |
|
| Control Group | No Intervention | Participants maintain their usual daily lifestyle without engaging in any new exercise programs during the 6-week study period. |
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower-body Electromyostimulation (LB-EMS) device | Device | Electrical stimulation applied to the lower body muscles (85Hz, 350µs) during the main exercise phase |
|
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Body Fat Percentage | Assessed using BIA. The proportion of fat mass relative to total body weight. Unit of Measure: % | Baseline and Week 8 |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Highest Brachial-ankle Pulse Wave Velocity (baPWV) | An indicator of arterial stiffness. Higher values indicate stiffer arteries. Unit of Measure: cm/s | Baseline and Week 8 |
| Peak Torque (Knee Extension/Flexion) per body weight |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Fatigue Index | The percentage decline in peak torque calculated from the difference between the initial and final repetitions during a set of isokinetic contractions performed at an angular velocity of 180°/s. Unit of Measure: % | Baseline and Week 8 |
| Hamstring-Quadriceps Ratio (H/Q Ratio) |
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Yeon Soo Kim, MD | Seoul National University | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul National University | Seoul | Seoul | 08826 | South Korea |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D055948 | Sarcopenia |
| D001161 | Arteriosclerosis |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D009133 | Muscular Atrophy |
| D020879 | Neuromuscular Manifestations |
| D009461 | Neurologic Manifestations |
| D009422 | Nervous System Diseases |
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A parallel-group design with three arms: 1) Lower Body EMS combined with Resistance Training, 2) Resistance Training alone, and 3) Control group.
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| Lower Body Resistance Training | Behavioral | A 50-minute session consisting of a 10-minute warm-up, 30 minutes of main lower body resistance training (4 types of machine-based exercises per session), and a 10-minute cool-down |
|
The maximum torque produced during isokinetic knee extension and flexion. Assessed at a 60°/s angular velocity.
Unit of Measure: Nm (Newton-meters)/kg
| Baseline and Week 8 |
| Skeletal Muscle Mass | Assessed using Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA). Represents the total weight of muscle tissue attached to the skeleton. Unit of Measure: kg | Baseline and Week 8 |
| Total Body Fat Mass | Assessed using BIA. Represents the total weight of adipose tissue in the body. Unit of Measure: kg | Baseline and Week 8 |
| Skeletal Muscle Mass Index (SMI) | Calculated as appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) divided by height squared (kg/m^2). Used to assess sarcopenia status. Unit of Measure: kg/m^2 | Baseline and Week 8 |
| Waist Circumference | Measured at the midpoint between the lowest rib and the iliac crest using a standard anthropometric tape, with the participant standing and breathing normally. Unit of Measure: cm | Baseline and Week 8 |
| Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR) | Calculated as waist circumference divided by hip circumference. An indicator of central adiposity and cardiometabolic risk. Unit of Measure: ratio | Baseline and Week 8 |
| Estimated Visceral Fat Area (eVFA) | Assessed using BIA. Represents the cross-sectional area of visceral adipose tissue surrounding the abdominal organs. Unit of Measure: cm^2 | Baseline and Week 8 |
| Average Brachial-ankle Pulse Wave Velocity (baPWV) | An indicator of arterial stiffness. Average values indicate stiffer arteries. Unit of Measure: cm/s | Baseline and Week 8 |
| Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) | The Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) is the ratio of the systolic blood pressure measured at the ankle to the systolic blood pressure measured at the brachial artery. It is a non-invasive indicator used to assess the presence and severity of peripheral arterial stenosis or occlusion. Lower ABI values (typically < 0.9) suggest narrowing or blockage of the arteries in the legs. Unit of Measure: ratio | Baseline and Week 8 |
| Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) | Measured using an automated oscillometric device after at least 5 minutes of seated rest. Represents the peak arterial pressure during ventricular contraction. Unit of Measure: mmHg | Baseline and Week 8 |
| Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) | Measured using an automated oscillometric device after at least 5 minutes of seated rest. Represents the minimum arterial pressure during ventricular relaxation. Unit of Measure: mmHg | Baseline and Week 8 |
| Pulse Pressure (PP) | The difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure. It is a marker of arterial stiffness. Unit of Measure: mmHg | Baseline and Week 8 |
| Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) | Calculated as (SBP + 2 × DBP) / 3. Represents the average arterial pressure during one cardiac cycle. Unit of Measure: mmHg | Baseline and Week 8 |
| Total Work Done per body weight | The total amount of work performed by the muscle groups during the test protocol(Knee extension/flexion) at an angular velocity of 180°/s. Unit of Measure: Nm/kg | Baseline and Week 8 |
The ratio of the peak torque of the hamstring muscles to the peak torque of the quadriceps muscles measured at an angular velocity of 60°/s. Unit of Measure: ratio |
| Baseline and Week 8 |
| Bilateral Deficit | The percentage difference between the sum of peak torques produced by each leg individually and the peak torque produced when both legs act simultaneously, measured at an angular velocity of 60°/s. Unit of Measure: % | Baseline and Week 8 |
| D001284 | Atrophy |
| D020763 | Pathological Conditions, Anatomical |
| D013568 | Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms |
| D012816 | Signs and Symptoms |
| D001157 | Arterial Occlusive Diseases |
| D014652 | Vascular Diseases |
| D002318 | Cardiovascular Diseases |