An 8-week randomized controlled trial on the effects of brisk walking, and brisk walking with abdominal electrical muscle stimulation on anthropometric, body composition, and self-perception measures in sedentary adult women

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to examine the effects of an 8-week program of regular brisk walking, regular brisk walking with abdominal electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), and no exercise on hierarchical self-perceptions, and consider the mediating role of changes in anthropometric measures and body composition. Methods: Thirty-seven sedentary healthy women (mean age ¼ 38.1; SD ¼ 9.3) provided written informed consent and participated in baseline testing on a range of anthropometric, body composition, and hierarchical self-perception measures. Subsequently participants were randomly assigned to an 8-week program of walking (n ¼ 13), walking+EMS (n ¼ 14), or a control (n ¼ 10) condition. At 8 weeks anthropometric, body composition and self-perception measures were re-assessed. Results: In comparison with the control group, both walking groups had significant reductions in a number of anthropometric measures and improvements in self-perception measures. The improvements on both anthropometric measures and self-perceptions were greater for the walking+EMS condition, which indicated that changes in self-perception might be mediated by body changes. However, an assessment of the mediation effect between changes in anthropometric measures and self-perception changes did not support this finding. ARTICLE IN PRESSwww.elsevier.com/locate/psychsport 1469-0292/$ -see front matter r

The effect of high-impulse- electromyostimulation on adipokine profiles, body composition and strength: A pilot study

“…Although the fat variables of LII and MII groups were not significantly different, body weight in the HII group significantly decreased from Week 2 to Week 6. In an 8-week study, the improvement on anthropometric measures was greater for the walking + EMS group compared with walking only and control groups in sedentary adult women [30]. Specifically, they reported that the walking + EMS group had significantly greater reductions in hip and thigh circumferences than the control group.…”

The Effects of High Intensity Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on Abdominal Strength and Endurance, Core Strength, Abdominal Girth, and Perceived Body Shape and Satisfaction

“…Several studies have found abdominal NMES training to have a positive effect on self-perception and body image measures (Anderson et al, 2006;Porcari et al, 2005). This study also found significant improvements in the subjective data.…”

“…There are a number of possible explanations as to why the LI group had improvements in the subjective tests. In the studies by Porcari et al (2005) and Anderson et al (2006), subjects in the control group did not receive any intervention. In the current study, the LI group (designed to be the control group) used belts that elicited some tactile sensation, but no visible muscular contraction.…”

“…It is likely that because the LI group did feel something, they felt like they were getting a benefit. Anderson et al (2006) attributed improvements in subjective measures to improvements in abdominal and waist circumference. This could have also played a role in the current study.…”

“…There are conflicting results regarding the effects of NMES on the abdominal musculature. Many studies have demonstrated significant improvements in abdominal strength and endurance, perceived muscle tone, and body satisfaction following NMES training (Alon et al, 1987;Alon et al, 1992, Abendroth-Smith & Sword, 1977Anderson et al, 2006, Ballantyne & Donne, 1999Porcari et al, 2005), while others have shown no improvement in these parameters (Aikman, et al, 1985;Porcari et al, 2002).…”