Whole body-electromyostimulation effects on serum biomarkers, physical performances and fatigue in Parkinson's patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) was never previously applied to Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. This randomized controlled study aimed to find the most effective and safe WB-EMS training protocol for this population. Methods: Twenty-four subjects (age: 72.13 ± 6.20 years), were randomly assigned to three groups: a high-frequency WB-EMS strength training group (HFG) (rectangular stimulation at 85 Hz, 350 μs, 4 s stimulation/4 s rest), a low-frequency WB-EMS aerobic training group (LFG) (rectangular stimulation 7 Hz, 350 μs, with a continuous pulse duration), and an inactive control group (CG). Participants of the two experimental groups underwent 24 controlled WB-EMS training sessions, with a duration of 20 min each, during 12-week intervention. Serum growth factors (BDNF, FGF-21, NGF and proNGF), α-synuclein, physical performance and Parkinson's Disease Fatigue Scale (PFS-16) responses were analyzed to evaluate the pre-post variation and differences among groups. Results: Significant interactions of Time*Groups were detected for BDNF (Time*Groups p = 0.024; Time*CG, b = -628, IC95% = -1,082/-174, p = 0.008), FGF-21 (Time*Groups p = 0.009; Time*LFG b = 1,346, IC95% = 423/2268, p = 0.005), and α-synuclein (Time*Groups p = 0.019; Time*LFG b = -1,572, IC95% = -2,952/-192, p = 0.026). Post hoc analyses and comparisons of ΔS (post-pre), performed independently for each group, showed that LFG increased serum BDNF levels (+ 203 pg/ml) and decreased α-synuclein levels (-1,703 pg/ml), while HFG showed the opposite effects (BDNF: -500 pg/ml; α-synuclein: + 1,413 pg/ml). CG showed a significant BDNF reduction over time. Both LFG and HFG showed significant improvements in several physical performance outcomes and the LFG showed better results than HFG. Concerning PFS-16, significant differences over time (b = -0.4, IC95% = -0.8/-0.0, p = 0.046) and among groups (among all groups p < 0.001) were found, and the LFG exhibited better results than the HFG (b = -1.0, IC95% = -1.3/-0.7, p < 0.001), and CG (b = -1.7, IC95% = -2.0/-1.4, p < 0.001) with this last one that worsened over time. Conclusion: LFG training was the best choice for improving or maintaining physical performance, fatigue perception and variation in serum biomarkers. Clinical trial registration: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04878679, identifier NCT04878679.

Background: Whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) was never previouslyapplied to Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. This randomized controlled study aimedto find the most effective and safe WB-EMS training protocol for this population.Methods: Twenty-four subjects (age: 72.13 ± 6.20 years), were randomly assigned tothree groups: a high-frequency WB-EMS strength training group (HFG) (rectangularstimulation at 85 Hz, 350 μs, 4 s stimulation/4 s rest), a low-frequency WB-EMS aerobic training group (LFG) (rectangular stimulation 7 Hz, 350 μs, with acontinuous pulse duration), and an inactive control group (CG). Participants of thetwo experimental groups underwent 24 controlled WB-EMS training sessions, with aduration of 20 min each, during 12-week intervention. Serum growth factors (BDNF,FGF-21, NGF and proNGF), α-synuclein, physical performance and Parkinson’sDisease Fatigue Scale (PFS-16) responses were analyzed to evaluate the pre-postvariation and differences among groups.Results: Significant interactions of Time∗Groups were detected for BDNF(Time∗Groups p = 0.024; Time∗CG, b = −628, IC95% = −1,082/−174, p = 0.008),FGF-21 (Time∗Groups p = 0.009; Time∗LFG b = 1,346, IC95% = 423/2268,p = 0.005), and α-synuclein (Time∗Groups p = 0.019; Time∗LFG b = −1,572,IC95% = −2,952/−192, p = 0.026). Post hoc analyses and comparisons of 1S (post–pre), performed independently for each group, showed that LFG increased serumBDNF levels (+ 203 pg/ml) and decreased α-synuclein levels (−1,703 pg/ml), whileHFG showed the opposite effects (BDNF: −500 pg/ml; α-synuclein: + 1,413 pg/ml).CG showed a significant BDNF reduction over time. Both LFG and HFG showedsignificant improvements in several physical performance outcomes and the LFGshowed better results than HFG. Concerning PFS-16, significant differences over time(b = −0.4, IC95% = −0.8/−0.0, p = 0.046) and among groups (among all groupsp < 0.001) were found, and the LFG exhibited better results than the HFG (b = −1.0, C95% = −1.3/−0.7, p < 0.001), and CG (b = −1.7, IC95% = −2.0/−1.4, p < 0.001) withthis last one that worsened over time.Conclusion: LFG training was the best choice for improving or maintaining physicalperformance, fatigue perception and variation in serum biomarkers.