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Transcutaneous electrical muscle stimulation does not alter regional arm adiposity and muscularity
Author(s) -
Keller B.A.,
Katch F.I.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
american journal of human biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.559
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1520-6300
pISSN - 1042-0533
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1520-6300(1998)10:3<317::aid-ajhb7>3.0.co;2-f
Subject(s) - biceps , muscle hypertrophy , medicine , hum , stimulation , upper limb , muscle tissue , anatomy , physical therapy , physical medicine and rehabilitation , art , performance art , art history
The present study evaluated the effects of an electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) training protocol claimed to elicit site‐specific fat reduction and muscle hypertrophy. The protocol includes 6 weeks (3 sessions/week, 10 contractions/session) of high frequency (2500 Hz) transcutaneous EMS training on upper arm muscle and fat tissue. Two groups of 10 subjects were stimulated either on the dominant biceps brachii (B) or triceps brachii (T). The non‐dominant arm served as a control. Post‐training measures of upper arm fat and muscle tissue evaluated with girths, skinfolds, and ultrasound measures of fat did not change following EMS training of the treatment and control arms ( p > 0.05). Upper arm x‐ray measurements to estimate total upper arm volume, muscle plus bone volume, and fat volume also did not change significantly for groups B and T following training ( p > 0.05). The results thus indicate no selective upper arm muscle hypertrophy or site‐specific fat reduction with high frequency EMS training of healthy muscle. Am. J Hum. Biol. 10:317–326, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.