Efficacy of WB-EMS in Frail Older People

University of Erlangen-Nürnberg Medical School

Status

Completed

Conditions

Frailty Syndrome

Treatments

Behavioral: social contact control group

Behavioral: WB-EMS

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT04967534

ETAPPEN_MAIN

Details and patient eligibility

About

Exercise in general and resistance training (RT) in particular have demonstrated positive effects on frailty outcomes, including physical functioning. However, frail older people with functional impairments are among the least physically active and have problems reaching high-intensity levels. Whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) allows the simultaneous innervation of all large muscle groups by external electrical stimulation, inducing a high-intensity RT at a low subjective effort level. The efficacy of WB-EMS in frail older people has yet to be determined.

The primary objective of this study is to investigate the efficacy of WB-EMS in frail older people.

Enrollment

54 patients

Sex

All

Ages

65+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

aged 65 years and older
frail according to Tilburg Frailty Indicator
residing in assisted living facility or nursing home
able to walk 4m w/o walking aid but without personal assistance
no prior WB-EMS exposure

Exclusion criteria

severe visual or hearing impairments
major cognitive impairment (MMSE <10)
medications with muscle-anabolic effects
medical conditions affecting trainability of muscles (e.g. Myasthenia gravis, Cushing syndrome, Morbus McArdle)
surgery within past two months
history of rhabdomyolysis
medical conditions affecting sensation of electrical stimuli (e.g. severe polyneuropathy)
severe renal insufficiency (eGFR<30 ml/min/1.73m²)
electronic implants
acute or untreated abdominal wall or inguinal hernia
Ventricular arrhythmias requiring therapy