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Musculoskeletal and Sports Medicine

Enhanced Acute Metabolic Response Following 8 Weeks of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Training

Thursday, October 23, 2025
2:15 PM - 3:30 PM MT
Location: Session Room - 250 DEF
Disclosure(s):
Edwardo Pallares, Other: No financial relationships to disclose
Jehu Apaflo, Other: No financial relationships to disclose
Background and/or Objectives: Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) is a rehabilitation technique used to improve physical and mobility impairments. While the impact of NMES on metabolic health is gaining interest, most studies focus on its acute effects. The long-term potentiation of these effects through repeated NMES training remains unclear. This study evaluates whether an 8-week NMES training intervention impacts the acute metabolic response to NMES.

Design: Forty-three participants (7M/36F) were randomized into a control (n=22) or NMES training group (n=21). The NMES group underwent 8 weeks of NMES training (30 min/session; 3 sessions/week) at the highest tolerable intensity to induce visible muscle contraction; the control group received sham stimulation with lowest intensity. All participants received 30 minutes of NMES stimulation on quadriceps muscle in supine position on test days (baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention). Metabolic health outcome measures were measured at baseline and during the stimulation test. A standard diet was provided 24 hours prior to both pre- and post-intervention tests to control dietary influence.

Setting : This study was performed at the Metabolic, Nutrition, and Exercise Research (MiNER) Laboratory of the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).

Participants : Sedentary, overweight or obese participants (n = 43; age: 36.7 ± 12.6 years; BMI = 33.2 ± 5.9kg/m2)

Interventions: 8 weeks of NMES application

Main Outcome Measures: Metabolic health parameters (Blood Glucose, Energy Expenditure, Respiratory Exchange Ratio)

Results: Eight weeks of NMES training resulted in greater metabolic responses to NMES stimulation as reflected by a trend to greater reduction in blood glucose (-1.20±0.56 mg/dL vs -3.24±1.03 mg/dL; p=0.09) and significantly greater increase in energy expenditure (0.003+0.126 Kcal.Day-1.kg-1 vs 0.685+0.253 Kcal.Day-1.kg-1; p< 0.05) during the post intervention test day compared to pre-training responses. The control group showed no such significant changes.

Conclusions: Eight weeks of NMES training improved metabolic response to acute NMES application, emphasizing the benefits of NMES training on metabolic health improvement.