ENERGY EXPENDITURE IN HIIT WHOLE BODY ASSOCIATED WITH ELECTROMYOSTIMULATION

ABSTRACT Introduction: The use of whole body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) has been shown to be an efficient method for inducing significant improvements in muscle strength and performance outcomes. Hypothetically, WB-EMS had been considered an enhancer of energy expenditure in the session, but this remains unclear. Objective: In view of the lack of information, this study aims to evaluate the energy expenditure of WB-EMS associated with whole body High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). Methods: Fourteen male participants were submitted into two randomized exercise sessions: HIIT (whole body weight exercises without WB-EMS) and HIIT+WB-EMS (whole body weight exercises associated with WB-EMS). For both exercise conditions, the subjects performed whole body HIIT according to the following protocol: 3 minutes of warm-up followed by 4 exercises (30 seconds of stimulus) organized in 2 blocks, with 3 sets in each exercise, a rest period of 15 seconds between sets, and 180 seconds between blocks. The following exercises were performed: jumping jacks, squat and thrusts, burpees, and spider plank. Results: Significant differences were found in the absolute VO2 (HIIT:2.18±0.34, HIIT+WB-EMS:2.32±0.36 L.min−1) and relative VO2 (HIIT:26.30±3.77, HIIT+WB-EMS:28.02± 3.74 ml.kg.min−1), MET (HIIT:7.51±1.07, HIIT+WB-EMS:8.00±1.07), lactate concentration (HIIT:11.59±2.16, HIIT+WB-EMS: 12.64±1.99 mmol.L−1) and total energy expenditure (HIIT: 249.6± 45.04 Kcal, HIIT+ WB-EMS: 268.9±40.67 Kcal; 7.46 ± 5.31%). Conclusion: Our data indicate that the use of WB-EMS associated with HIIT generated a slightly higher metabolic demand than that of the control. However, the absolute differences do not allow us to indicate the superiority of WB-EMS, and future trials should be designed to determine the long-term effects. RESUMEN Introducción: Se ha demostrado que el uso de la electroestimulación de cuerpo entero (WB-EMS) es un método eficaz para inducir mejoras significativas en la fuerza muscular y los resultados de rendimiento. Hipotéticamente, la práctica de WB-EMS se consideró un potenciador del gasto calórico en la sesión, pero esto aún no está claro. Objetivo: el objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el gasto energético del WB-EMS asociado al HIIT con el peso corporal. Métodos: Se asignaron al azar catorce participantes masculinos a dos sesiones de ejercicio: HIIT (ejercicios de peso corporal total sin WB-EMS) y HIIT + WB-EMS (ejercicios de peso corporal total asociados con WB-EMS). Pa