Influence of Whole-Body Electrostimulation on the Deformability of Density-Separated Red Blood Cells in Soccer Players

Abstract

Red blood cell nitric oxide synthase (RBC-NOS) dependent NO production positively affects RBC deformability which is known to improve oxygen supply to the working tissue. Whole-body electrostimulation (WB-EMS) has been shown to improve maximum strength, sprinting and jumping performance, and to increase deformability in elite soccer players during the season. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether WB-EMS affects RBC turnover which might affect overall deformability of circulating RBC by rejuvenation of the RBC population and if this might be related to improved endurance capacity. Thirty male field soccer players were assigned in either a WB-EMS group (EG, n = 10), a training group (TG, n = 10), or a control group (CG, n = 10). EG performed 3 × 10 squat jumps superimposed with WB-EMS twice per week in concurrent to 2–4 soccer training sessions and one match per week. TG only performed 3 × 10 squat jumps without EMS in addition to their soccer routine and the CG only performed the usual soccer training and match per week. Subjects were tested before (Baseline) and in week 7 (wk-7), with blood sampling before (Pre), 15–30 min after (Post), and 24 h after (24 h post) the training. Endurance capacity was determined before and directly after the training period. The key findings of the investigation indicate an increase in young RBC in the EG group along with improved overall RBC deformability, represented by decreased SS1/2:EImax Ratio. Analysis of the different RBC subfractions revealed improved RBC deformability of old RBC during study period. This improvement was not only observed in the EG but also in TG and CG. Changes in RBC deformability were not associated to altered RBC-NOS/NO signaling pathway. Endurance capacity remained unchanged during study period. In summary, the effect of WB-EMS on RBC physiology seems to be rather low and results are only in part comparable to previous findings. According to the lower training volume of the present study it can be speculated that the soccer specific training load in addition to the WB-EMS was too low to induce changes in RBC physiology.

Superimposing neuromuscular electrical stimulation onto voluntary contractions to improve muscle strength and mass: A systematic review

“…After removing duplicates, titles and abstracts of 197 articles were screened and 40 articles were selected for full-text assessment. After full-text screening 17 articles were discarded because they did not meet all the inclusion criteria: eight records because they were not training protocols (Bizid et al, 2009;Boisgontier, Vuillerme, & Iversen, 2010, 2012Brown & Donnelly, 2011;Lepley, Wojtys, & Palmieri-Smith, 2015;Moineau & Boisgontier, 2014;Paillard, 2012;Paillard et al, 2010), seven articles because they lacked outcome measures of both muscle function and muscle mass (Filipovic et al, 2019a;Kemmler et al, 2018;Valenza et al, 2018;Wahl et al, 2012Wahl et al, , 2014Wirtz et al, 2015Wirtz et al, , 2020 and two articles because they involved neurological patients (Glinsky et al, 2009;Harvey et al, 2010). One additional article was included after analysing the reference list of the remaining records (Takano et al, 2010).…”

Effects of electromyostimulation on performance parameters in sportive and trained athletes: A systematic review and network meta‐analysis

“…23 trials used a two‐armed design (Amaro‐Gahete et al, 2018; Avila et al, 2008; Babault et al, 2007; Billot et al, 2010; Brocherie et al, 2005; da Cunha et al, 2020; Dörmann et al, 2019; Filipovic et al, 2015, 2016; Kale & Gurol, 2019; Ludwig et al, 2020; Maffiuletti et al, 2000, 2002; Martin et al, 1994; Mathes et al, 2017; Micke et al, 2018; Miller & Thépaut‐Mathieu, 1993; Oliveira et al, 2018; Pantović et al, 2015; Pichon et al, 1995; Schuhbeck et al, 2019; Wirtz et al, 2016; Zory et al, 2010), 9 studies a three‐armed design (Benito‐Martínez et al, 2013; Dervisevic et al, 2002; Filipovic et al, 2019; Girold et al, 2012; Gulick et al, 2011; A. J. Herrero et al, 2010a, 2010b; Paillard et al, 2008; Wirtz et al, 2020), and 4 studies a four‐armed study design (J. Herrero et al, 2006; Martínez‐López et al, 2012; Willoughby & Simpson, 1996, 1998).…”

“…The mean age was 19.3 ± 2.6 years and the mean sample size was 30. 23 trials used a two-armed design (Amaro-Gahete et al, 2018; Avila et al, 2008;Babault et al, 2007;Billot et al, 2010;Brocherie et al, 2005;da Cunha et al, 2020;Dörmann et al, 2019;Filipovic et al, 2015Filipovic et al, , 2016Kale & Gurol, 2019;Ludwig et al, 2020;Maffiuletti et al, 2000Maffiuletti et al, , 2002Martin et al, 1994;Mathes et al, 2017;Micke et al, 2018;Miller & Thépaut-Mathieu, 1993;Oliveira et al, 2018;Pantović et al, 2015;Pichon et al, 1995;Schuhbeck et al, 2019;Wirtz et al, 2016;Zory et al, 2010), 9 studies a three-armed design (Benito-Martínez et al, 2013;Dervisevic et al, 2002;Filipovic et al, 2019;Girold et al, 2012;Gulick et al, 2011;A. J. Herrero et al, 2010aA.…”