Kemmler W, et al. - The effect of whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS), a time-efficient, joint-friendly and highly individualized exercise technology, on sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity (SO) in older men was assessed in this study. For tackling sarcopenia and SO in older men, WB-EMS and protein supplementation (WB-EMS&P) was a safe and efficient method. The suboptimum effect on functional parameters, however, needed to be addressed by increased voluntary activation during WB-EMS application.

• The physicians randomly assigned 100 community-dwelling northern Bavarian men aged ≥70 years with sarcopenia and obesity (1-1-1) to either 16 weeks of 1) WB-EMS and protein supplementation (WB-EMS&P), 2) isolated protein supplementation or 3) nonintervention control.
• They applied WB-EMS consisted of 1.5×20 min (85 Hz, 350 µs, 4 s of strain to 4 s of rest) with moderate-to-high intensity while moving.
• Further, they generated a daily protein intake of 1.7-1.8 g/kg/body mass per day.
• Sarcopenia Z-Score was the primary study end point.
• Body fat rate (%), skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) and handgrip strength were the secondary study end points.

• The physicians determined a significantly favorable effect of WB-EMS&P (P<0.001) and protein (P=0.007) vs control in intention-to-treat analysis.
• In this study, both groups significantly (P<0.001) lost body fat (WB-EMS&P: 2.1%; protein: 1.1%) and differed significantly (P≤0.004) from control (0.3%).
• For body fat, differences between WB-EMS&P and protein were significant for the Sarcopenia Z-Score (P=0.39) and borderline nonsignificant (P=0.051).
• In both groups, SMI increased significantly (P<0.001 and P=0.043) and decreased significantly in the control group (CG; P=0.033).
• Differences between the verum groups and control were significant (P≤0.009).
• Only in the WB-EMS group, handgrip strength increased (1.90 kg; P<0.001; P=0.050 vs control).
• There were no adverse effects of WB-EMS or protein supplementation.