SarcopeniaLB-EMS-PMWNCT07385534
Effects of Lower Body EMS Training in Postmenopausal Women
A study testing Lower-body Electromyostimulation (LB-EMS) device and Lower Body Resistance Training in people with Sarcopenia and Arteriosclerosis, run by Seoul National University at 1 site in South Korea.
Trial summary
This study evaluates the effects of a 8-week lower body Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) training program on body composition, muscle function, and arteriosclerosis markers in postmenopausal women. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 50 to 70 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Sarcopenia, Arteriosclerosis, Arterial Stiffness, Blood Pressure
- What is being tested?
- Lower-body Electromyostimulation (LB-EMS) device and Lower Body Resistance Training
- Type of treatment
- Medical device, Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 38 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSouth Korea
- Study dates
- 23 Jan 2026to 14 Jun 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 50 to 70 years
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Post-menopausal women (defined as cessation of menstruation for at least 12 months).
- Aged between 50 and 70 years.
- Sedentary lifestyle (no participation in regular resistance training programs within the last 6 months).
- Able to perform lower body resistance exercise with LB-EMS suit.
- Willing to participate in the study and provide informed consent.
Who cannot join
- Contraindications for WB-EMS: Presence of implanted electrical devices (e.g., pacemakers, defibrillators), severe bleeding disorders (e.g., hemophilia), abdominal/inguinal hernia, or history of surgery within the last 6 months (including stent insertion).
- Severe Chronic Diseases: Diagnosis of severe cardiovascular (e.g., MI, heart failure, arrhythmia), renal, neurological (e.g., epilepsy), or oncological diseases (currently undergoing treatment).
- Uncontrolled Cardiovascular Conditions: Uncontrolled hypertension or severe arterial circulatory disorders.
- Confounding Medications: Current use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopause or medications for severe psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety).
- Acute Conditions \& Others: Acute infection/inflammation, influence of alcohol/drugs, or any other condition deemed unsuitable by the investigator.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Effects of Lower-Body Electrical Muscle Stimulation Combined With Resistance Training on Body Composition, Muscle Function, and Arteriosclerosis-related Markers in Postmenopausal Women: A Three-arm Randomized Controlled Trial
This study evaluates the effects of a 8-week lower body Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) training program on body composition, muscle function, and arteriosclerosis markers in postmenopausal women.
Menopause is associated with a rapid decline in estrogen, which increases the risk of sarcopenia (muscle loss) and arterial stiffness (cardiovascular disease). While resistance training is effective for these conditions, participation rates among postmenopausal women are often low. This study investigates whether applying EMS during lower body resistance exercises provides superior benefits compared to resistance training alone or no intervention.
Read more
Participants will be randomized into three groups:
- Lower-body EMS combined with Resistance Training Group
- Resistance Training Only Group
- Control Group (No intervention)
The study aims to verify the efficacy of EMS as a time-efficient and effective alternative exercise modality for improving vascular and musculoskeletal health in this population.
- Conditions
- Sarcopenia, Arteriosclerosis, Arterial Stiffness, Blood Pressure, Postmenopausal Women, Body Composition, Muscle Function
- Being tested
- Lower-body Electromyostimulation (LB-EMS) device, Lower Body Resistance Training
- Keywords
- Electrical Muscle Stimulation, EMS, Resistance Training, Postmenopausal Women, Body Composition, Vascular Health, Muscle Function
- Medical subject headings
- Sarcopenia, Arteriosclerosis
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Lower-body Electromyostimulation (LB-EMS) deviceDevice
Electrical stimulation applied to the lower body muscles (85Hz, 350µs) during the main exercise phase
Lower Body Resistance TrainingBehavioural
A 50-minute session consisting of a 10-minute warm-up, 30 minutes of main lower body resistance training (4 types of machine-based exercises per session), and a 10-minute cool-down
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Body EMS + Resistance Training Group | Experimental | Participants perform lower body resistance training while wearing a lower body EMS suit. Each session lasts 50 minutes (10-min warm-up, 30-min main exercise, 10-min cool-down). EMS stimulation is applied exclusively during the 30-minute main exercise phase (85Hz, 350µs). This program is conducted twice a week for 8 weeks. Receives: Device: Lower-body Electromyostimulation (LB-EMS) device; Behavioral: Lower Body Resistance Training |
| Resistance Training Only Group | Active comparator | Participants perform the identical lower body resistance training program without EMS stimulation. The session structure (10-min warm-up, 30-min main exercise, 10-min cool-down) and total duration (50 minutes) are the same as the experimental group. Receives: Behavioral: Lower Body Resistance Training |
| Control Group | No intervention | Participants maintain their usual daily lifestyle without engaging in any new exercise programs during the 6-week study period. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Body Fat Percentage
Assessed using BIA. The proportion of fat mass relative to total body weight. Unit of Measure: %
Measured: Baseline and Week 8
Secondary outcomes (15)
Highest Brachial-ankle Pulse Wave Velocity (baPWV)
An indicator of arterial stiffness. Higher values indicate stiffer arteries. Unit of Measure: cm/s
Measured: Baseline and Week 8
Peak Torque (Knee Extension/Flexion) per body weight
The maximum torque produced during isokinetic knee extension and flexion. Assessed at a 60°/s angular velocity.
Unit of Measure: Nm (Newton-meters)/kg
Measured: Baseline and Week 8
Skeletal Muscle Mass
Assessed using Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA). Represents the total weight of muscle tissue attached to the skeleton. Unit of Measure: kg
Measured: Baseline and Week 8
Total Body Fat Mass
Assessed using BIA. Represents the total weight of adipose tissue in the body. Unit of Measure: kg
Measured: Baseline and Week 8
Skeletal Muscle Mass Index (SMI)
Calculated as appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) divided by height squared (kg/m^2). Used to assess sarcopenia status.
Unit of Measure: kg/m^2
Measured: Baseline and Week 8
Waist Circumference
Measured at the midpoint between the lowest rib and the iliac crest using a standard anthropometric tape, with the participant standing and breathing normally.
Unit of Measure: cm
Measured: Baseline and Week 8
Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR)
Calculated as waist circumference divided by hip circumference. An indicator of central adiposity and cardiometabolic risk.
Unit of Measure: ratio
Measured: Baseline and Week 8
Estimated Visceral Fat Area (eVFA)
Assessed using BIA. Represents the cross-sectional area of visceral adipose tissue surrounding the abdominal organs.
Unit of Measure: cm^2
Measured: Baseline and Week 8
Average Brachial-ankle Pulse Wave Velocity (baPWV)
An indicator of arterial stiffness. Average values indicate stiffer arteries. Unit of Measure: cm/s
Measured: Baseline and Week 8
Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI)
The Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) is the ratio of the systolic blood pressure measured at the ankle to the systolic blood pressure measured at the brachial artery. It is a non-invasive indicator used to assess the presence and severity of peripheral arterial stenosis or occlusion. Lower ABI values (typically < 0.9) suggest narrowing or blockage of the arteries in the legs.
Unit of Measure: ratio
Measured: Baseline and Week 8
Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP)
Measured using an automated oscillometric device after at least 5 minutes of seated rest. Represents the peak arterial pressure during ventricular contraction.
Unit of Measure: mmHg
Measured: Baseline and Week 8
Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP)
Measured using an automated oscillometric device after at least 5 minutes of seated rest. Represents the minimum arterial pressure during ventricular relaxation.
Unit of Measure: mmHg
Measured: Baseline and Week 8
Pulse Pressure (PP)
The difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure. It is a marker of arterial stiffness.
Unit of Measure: mmHg
Measured: Baseline and Week 8
Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP)
Calculated as (SBP + 2 × DBP) / 3. Represents the average arterial pressure during one cardiac cycle.
Unit of Measure: mmHg
Measured: Baseline and Week 8
Total Work Done per body weight
The total amount of work performed by the muscle groups during the test protocol(Knee extension/flexion) at an angular velocity of 180°/s.
Unit of Measure: Nm/kg
Measured: Baseline and Week 8
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Feb 2026
- Study start23 Jan 2026
- Primary completion12 Jun 2026
- Study completion14 Jun 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for SarcopeniaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- A parallel-group design with three arms: 1) Lower Body EMS combined with Resistance Training, 2) Resistance Training alone, and 3) Control group.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 38 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Seoul National University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Kyungho Kim, Seoul National University
- Investigators
- Yeon Soo Kim, MD, Principal investigator, Seoul National University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07385534
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB No. 2601/002-017
- Acronym
- LB-EMS-PMW
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 23 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 15 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 15 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Lower-Body Electrical Muscle Stimulation Combined With Resistance Training on Body Composition, Muscle Function, and Arteriosclerosis-related Markers in Postmenopausal Women: A Three-arm Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07385534
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- LB-EMS-PMW / IRB No. 2601/002-017
- Conditions
- Sarcopenia, Arteriosclerosis, Arterial Stiffness, Blood Pressure, Postmenopausal Women, Body Composition, Muscle Function
- Keywords
- Electrical Muscle Stimulation, EMS, Resistance Training, Postmenopausal Women, Body Composition, Vascular Health, Muscle Function
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 38 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Seoul National UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 23 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 12 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 14 Jun 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 4 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study evaluates the effects of a 8-week lower body Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) training program on body composition, muscle function, and arteriosclerosis markers in postmenopausal women.
Menopause is associated with a rapid decline in estrogen, which increases the risk of sarcopenia (muscle loss) and arterial stiffness (cardiovascular disease). While resistance training is effective for these conditions, participation rates among postmenopausal women are often low. This study investigates whether applying EMS during lower body resistance exercises provides superior benefits compared to resistance training alone or no intervention.
Participants will be randomized into three groups:
- Lower-body EMS combined with Resistance Training Group
- Resistance Training Only Group
- Control Group (No intervention)
The study aims to verify the efficacy of EMS as a time-efficient and effective alternative exercise modality for improving vascular and musculoskeletal health in this population.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- A parallel-group design with three arms: 1) Lower Body EMS combined with Resistance Training, 2) Resistance Training alone, and 3) Control group.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Body EMS + Resistance Training Group | Experimental | Device: Lower-body Electromyostimulation (LB-EMS) device, Behavioral: Lower Body Resistance TrainingParticipants perform lower body resistance training while wearing a lower body EMS suit. Each session lasts 50 minutes (10-min warm-up, 30-min main exercise, 10-min cool-down). EMS stimulation is applied exclusively during the 30-minute main exercise phase (85Hz, 350µs). This program is conducted twice a week for 8 weeks. |
| Resistance Training Only Group | Active comparator | Behavioral: Lower Body Resistance TrainingParticipants perform the identical lower body resistance training program without EMS stimulation. The session structure (10-min warm-up, 30-min main exercise, 10-min cool-down) and total duration (50 minutes) are the same as the experimental group. |
| Control Group | No intervention | –Participants maintain their usual daily lifestyle without engaging in any new exercise programs during the 6-week study period. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 50 to 70 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Post-menopausal women (defined as cessation of menstruation for at least 12 months).
- Aged between 50 and 70 years.
- Sedentary lifestyle (no participation in regular resistance training programs within the last 6 months).
- Able to perform lower body resistance exercise with LB-EMS suit.
- Willing to participate in the study and provide informed consent.
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Contraindications for WB-EMS: Presence of implanted electrical devices (e.g., pacemakers, defibrillators), severe bleeding disorders (e.g., hemophilia), abdominal/inguinal hernia, or history of surgery within the last 6 months (including stent insertion).
- Severe Chronic Diseases: Diagnosis of severe cardiovascular (e.g., MI, heart failure, arrhythmia), renal, neurological (e.g., epilepsy), or oncological diseases (currently undergoing treatment).
- Uncontrolled Cardiovascular Conditions: Uncontrolled hypertension or severe arterial circulatory disorders.
- Confounding Medications: Current use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopause or medications for severe psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety).
- Acute Conditions \& Others: Acute infection/inflammation, influence of alcohol/drugs, or any other condition deemed unsuitable by the investigator.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Lower-body Electromyostimulation (LB-EMS) deviceElectrical stimulation applied to the lower body muscles (85Hz, 350µs) during the main exercise phase | Device | Lower Body EMS + Resistance Training Group |
| Lower Body Resistance TrainingA 50-minute session consisting of a 10-minute warm-up, 30 minutes of main lower body resistance training (4 types of machine-based exercises per session), and a 10-minute cool-down | Behavioural | Lower Body EMS + Resistance Training Group, Resistance Training Only Group |
Primary outcome
Body Fat Percentage
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Assessed using BIA. The proportion of fat mass relative to total body weight. Unit of Measure: %
15 secondary outcomes
Highest Brachial-ankle Pulse Wave Velocity (baPWV)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Peak Torque (Knee Extension/Flexion) per body weight
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Skeletal Muscle Mass
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Total Body Fat Mass
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Skeletal Muscle Mass Index (SMI)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Waist Circumference
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Estimated Visceral Fat Area (eVFA)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Average Brachial-ankle Pulse Wave Velocity (baPWV)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Pulse Pressure (PP)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Total Work Done per body weight
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 15 Jul 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Yeon Soo Kim, MD principal investigator
Seoul National University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Lower-body Electromyostimulation (LB-EMS) device and Lower Body Resistance Training in people with Sarcopenia and Arteriosclerosis, run by Seoul National University at 1 site in South Korea.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in South Korea. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Body Fat Percentage (time frame: Baseline and Week 8). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 Jul 2026.