Effects of Lower Body EMS Training in Postmenopausal Women

NCT07385534 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: IRB No. 2601/002-017
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 38
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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:

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

Conditions

Sarcopenia; Arteriosclerosis; Arterial Stiffness, Blood Pressure; Postmenopausal Women; Body Composition; Muscle Function

Keywords

Electrical Muscle Stimulation; EMS; Resistance Training; Postmenopausal Women; Body Composition; Vascular Health; Muscle Function

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Body Fat Percentage

  Assessed using BIA. The proportion of fat mass relative to total body weight. Unit of Measure: %

  Baseline and Week 8

Secondary Outcomes (15)

• Highest Brachial-ankle Pulse Wave Velocity (baPWV)

  Baseline and Week 8

• Peak Torque (Knee Extension/Flexion) per body weight

  Baseline and Week 8

• Skeletal Muscle Mass

  Baseline and Week 8

• Total Body Fat Mass

  Baseline and Week 8

• Skeletal Muscle Mass Index (SMI)

  Baseline and Week 8

Other Outcomes (3)

• Fatigue Index

  Baseline and Week 8

• Hamstring-Quadriceps Ratio (H/Q Ratio)

  Baseline and Week 8

• Bilateral Deficit

  Baseline and Week 8

Study Arms (3)

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.

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

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.

Behavioral: Lower Body Resistance Training

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

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

Interventions

Lower-body Electromyostimulation (LB-EMS) device DEVICE

Electrical stimulation applied to the lower body muscles (85Hz, 350µs) during the main exercise phase

Lower Body EMS + Resistance Training Group

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

Lower Body EMS + Resistance Training Group; Resistance Training Only Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 50 Years - 70 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• 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.

You may not qualify if:

• 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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Seoul National University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Seoul National University

Seoul, Seoul, 08826, South Korea

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Sarcopenia; Arteriosclerosis

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Muscular Atrophy; Neuromuscular Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Atrophy; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Arterial Occlusive Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases

Study Officials

• Yeon Soo Kim, MD

  Seoul National University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Model Details: A parallel-group design with three arms: 1) Lower Body EMS combined with Resistance Training, 2) Resistance Training alone, and 3) Control group.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 23, 2026
• First Posted: February 4, 2026
• Study Start: December 26, 2025
• Primary Completion: June 12, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 26, 2026
• Last Updated: May 27, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

KR (1)