Effects of Lower Body EMS Training in Postmenopausal Women (LB-EMS-PMW)

Seoul National University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Postmenopausal Women; Arterial Stiffness, Blood Pressure; Arteriosclerosis; Sarcopenia

Treatments: Device: Lower-body Electromyostimulation (LB-EMS) device; Behavioral: Lower Body Resistance Training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07385534

IRB No. 2601/002-017

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study evaluates the effects of a 6-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:

1. Lower-body EMS combined with Resistance Training Group
2. Resistance Training Only Group
3. Control Group (No intervention)

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.

Enrollment: 39 estimated patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 50 to 70 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Post-menopausal women (defined as cessation of menstruation for at least 12 months).
• Aged between 50 and 70 years.
• Sedentary lifestyle (no participation in regular resistance training programs within the last 6 months).
• Able to perform lower body resistance exercise with LB-EMS suit.
• Willing to participate in the study and provide informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Contraindications for WB-EMS: Presence of implanted electrical devices (e.g., pacemakers, defibrillators), severe bleeding disorders (e.g., hemophilia), abdominal/inguinal hernia, or history of surgery within the last 6 months (including stent insertion).
• Severe Chronic Diseases: Diagnosis of severe cardiovascular (e.g., MI, heart failure, arrhythmia), renal, neurological (e.g., epilepsy), or oncological diseases (currently undergoing treatment).
• Uncontrolled Cardiovascular Conditions: Uncontrolled hypertension or severe arterial circulatory disorders.
• Confounding Medications: Current use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopause or medications for severe psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety).
• Acute Conditions & Others: Acute infection/inflammation, influence of alcohol/drugs, or any other condition deemed unsuitable by the investigator.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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39 participants in 3 patient groups

Lower Body EMS + Resistance Training Group

Experimental group

Description:

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 6 weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Lower Body Resistance Training

Device: Lower-body Electromyostimulation (LB-EMS) device

Resistance Training Only Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

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.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Lower Body Resistance Training

Control Group

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants maintain their usual daily lifestyle without engaging in any new exercise programs during the 6-week study period.