Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Active, Not Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT07406191

WB-EMS Effects on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors

From the age of 50 onwards, there is a disproportionate decline in muscle strength, mass and function, which can be prevented or at least delayed by physical training. Unfortunately, many training programmes are very time-consuming and strenuous and are therefore not carried out consistently. Whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS), a technology in which all major muscle groups are stimulated with an adjusted stimulation level, could be a time-effective and joint-friendly alternative.

However, there are some contraindications to the widespread use of this technology, which are particularly common in middle-aged and elderly people. For example, high blood pressure, which affects more than half of men over the age of 50 in Germany, is considered a contraindication for WB-EMS training. However, this assessment is not very reliable; at least, acute WB-EMS application does not lead to an increase in blood pressure. In addition, there are no study results available for long-term WB-EMS application in people with high blood pressure.

The present study particularly investigate whether and to what extent several weeks of WB-EMS training has an effect on resting blood pressure in people with mild blood pressure. Additionally, the effect of WB-EMS on other cardiometabolic risk factors and physical function will be addressed.

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

Key information

Conditions

Hypertension Body Weight Cardiovascular Diseases Dyslipidemias Glucose Metabolism Disorders Hypercholesterolemia Hyperinsulinism Hyperlipidemias Hypertriglyceridemia Insulin Resistance Lipid Metabolism Disorders Metabolic Diseases Metabolic Syndrome Nutrition Disorders Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Obesity Overnutrition Overweight Overweight and Obesity Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Vascular Diseases

Age range

50 year–70 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Faculty of Medicine, University of Tuebingen, Erlangen, Germany

Loading trial locations.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Grade 1 hypertension: systolic 140 and/or diastolic 90 mmHg
  • overweight or obese (body mass index > 25 kg/m2)

Exclusion criteria

  • blood pressure-lowering pharmacologic therapy.
  • WB-EMS application and regular resistance exercise training
  • Conditions and illnesses that preclude intensive physical exertion
  • Severe cardiac arrhythmia
  • Heart failure
  • acute pulmonary embolism
  • acute myocarditis
  • severe hypertension, e.g. blood pressure > 200 mmHg systolic and/or >110 mmHg diastolic
  • Contraindications for bioimpedance analysis (e.g. pacemaker)
  • Contraindications for WB-EMS application (e.g. acute infections/fever, epilepsy)

Treatment and study plan

WB-EMS

Other

12 weeks of WB-EMS, 1.5x20 min/week

Other names: Electromyostimulation

Control

Other

12 weeks without additional intervention and without life style changes

Other names: Non-intervention control group

Primary outcomes

  1. Resting blood pressure

    Time frame: At baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention

    Changes of mean arterial blood pressure after 10 min of rest in a sitting position as assessed by an automatic sphygmomanometer

  2. Metabolic syndrome

    Time frame: At baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention

    Changes of the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) as determined by the MetS-Z-Score

Secondary outcomes

  1. Body fat rate

    Time frame: At baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention

    Changes of body fat rate as determined by Bio Impedance Analysis (BIA)

  2. Lean body mass

    Time frame: At baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention

    Changes of lean body mass as determined by Bio Impedance Analysis (BIA)

  3. Maximum muscle strength

    Time frame: At baseline and after 12weeks of intervention

    Changes of maximum hip-/leg extension strength as determined by a leg press

  4. Aerobic capacity

    Time frame: At baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention

    Changes of aerobic capacity as determined by a stepwise crosstrainer test to submaximum exertion

  5. Lower extremity muscle power

    Time frame: At baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention

    Changes of lower extremity muscle power as determined by a 5times sit to stand test

  6. Concentration of inflammatory markers

    Time frame: At baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention

    Changes of inflammatory markers as determined by cytokines

  7. Concentration of adipose-tissue derived hormones

    Time frame: At baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention

    Changes of adipose tissue-derived hormones as determined by adipokines

  8. Concentration of muscle-tissue derived hormones

    Time frame: At baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention

    Changes of muscle-tissue derived hormones as determined by myokines

  9. Bluthochdruck - Fragebogen zur Lebenszufriedenheit [Hypertension - Quality of Life Questionnaire]

    Time frame: At baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention

    Changes in QoL in people with hypertension according to a questionnaire from 1 (excellent, completely agree) to 6 (very bad/completely disagree). Lower scores indicate better outcomes

  10. Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)

    Time frame: At baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention

    Changes in sleep quality according to the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire on a scale from 1 (worst outcome) to 4 (best outcome). Higher scores indicate better sleep quality.

  11. Adverse effects

    Time frame: From baseline assessment to 12 week control assessment (during the intervention)

    All categories of adverse effects as determined by structured monthly telephone interview

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Erlangen-Nürnberg Medical School

Other

Collaborators

  • Universität Tübingen

Registry information

Official study title

Effects of Intensive Muscle Training on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors - a Randomised Controlled Study

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Feb 12, 2026
Registry last updated
May 14, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.