Whole-Body Electromyostimulation (WB-EMS): Safe, Attractive, and Consistent Evidence from 58 Studies with More Than 2,000 Participants

Science

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Whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) has developed from a niche idea into a globally relevant training method that combines efficiency, safety, and scientific credibility. A recent systematic review (Kemmler et al., 2025) has gathered the most comprehensive evidence to date: 58 clinical and applied studies with over 2,000 participants were analyzed.

The conclusion is unambiguous: WB-EMS is safe, highly attractive, and characterized by extraordinary training consistency.This evidence is particularly significant against the backdrop of global health challenges: an aging population, increasing prevalence of obesity and metabolic disorders, sedentary lifestyles, and the growing demand for time-efficient, individualized exercise solutions.

What Exactly Is WB-EMS?

WB-EMS uses electrically generated impulses to simultaneously stimulate all the body’s major muscle groups. Participants wear a system of electrodes placed close to the body – on the torso and limbs – while performing simple functional movements.

Unlike local EMS, which is often used in physiotherapy for targeted muscle rehabilitation, WB-EMS activates up to eight muscle groups at once. Sessions usually last around 20 minutes, and the method is always conducted under the supervision of a qualified trainer or therapist.

Key features include:

Time efficiency – a full-body workout in 20 minutes
Joint-friendliness – low mechanical stress, suitable even for people with limitations
Individual adaptability – intensity levels can be precisely controlled for each participant
Professional supervision – recommended trainer-to-client ratio of maximum 1:2

Safety: Confirmed Across 58 Studies

One of the strongest messages of the review is the excellent safety profile of WB-EMS.

No serious adverse events were reported in any of the 58 included studies.
The most common laboratory finding was an increase in creatine kinase (CK), a normal and temporary response after muscle activity, without clinical consequences.
The technology is considered safe even for individuals with pre-existing health conditions, provided that international guidelines and contraindications are respected.

This makes WB-EMS particularly relevant for people who cannot engage in conventional training due to joint problems, back pain, or other musculoskeletal issues. Instead of replacing classical exercise, WB-EMS expands the options for groups often excluded from fitness and prevention programs.

Attractiveness: High Participation and Motivation

A second outstanding result of the review is the exceptionally high attractiveness of WB-EMS for participants.

Average attendance rates across the studies were 94%, with many reporting 100% participation.
Reasons cited by participants include short duration, clear structure, close supervision, and quick perceived results.
WB-EMS has proven especially popular among groups with little previous exercise experience, who often feel overburdened or demotivated by traditional training methods.

In other words, WB-EMS lowers the entry barrier to physical activity. It allows people who otherwise avoid fitness programs to engage consistently in training – a crucial factor in public health promotion.

Training Consistency: Remarkably Low Drop-Out Rates

Perhaps the most surprising outcome: WB-EMS shows drop-out rates of only 5–10%, compared to up to 50% in conventional programs.

This makes WB-EMS one of the most reliable exercise methods when it comes to long-term adherence.
For providers, this means planning security and consistent revenue streams.
For participants, it translates into sustained results and measurable health benefits.

In practice, the combination of short duration, professional supervision, and strong perceived effects makes WB-EMS an exercise solution that people actually maintain over time.

Effectiveness: Proven Gains in Strength, Function, and Pain Reduction

Beyond safety and acceptance, the review and included studies also highlight the effectiveness of WB-EMS.

Participants achieved significant increases in muscle strength across major muscle groups.
Improvements in body composition were documented, including fat reduction and preservation of lean muscle mass.
In patients with chronic back pain and osteoarthritis, WB-EMS led to reduced pain and improved physical function.
Among older adults, it enhanced mobility, stability, and independence in daily life.

These findings show that WB-EMS is not only safe and motivating but also a clinically and functionally effective training tool – making it highly relevant for fitness, therapy, and preventive health programs

Practical Relevance: Fitness, Therapy, and Prevention

The systematic review’s findings have direct practical implications:

Fitness & training providers can position WB-EMS as a unique selling point. Short, high-intensity, and scientifically validated sessions attract broad target groups, from busy professionals to older adults.
Physiotherapy benefits from WB-EMS as a joint-friendly training tool, opening new possibilities for patients with chronic conditions or functional limitations. As part of longevity strategies, WB-EMS can help maintain muscle mass, mobility, and metabolic health well into older age.
Prevention & workplace health programs gain a method that is safe, efficient, and reliable. Especially in times when GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are widely used, WB-EMS can provide the missing piece: while medication reduces fat mass, it does not preserve muscle. WB-EMS can help protect muscle mass and functional capacity – ensuring balanced, sustainable results.

Societal Relevance: Addressing Current Trends

The importance of WB-EMS becomes even clearer when viewed in the context of current health trends:

Demographic change: Aging societies require solutions that maintain physical independence, prevent falls, and support healthy aging. WB-EMS directly addresses these needs.
Obesity and metabolic syndrome: Time-efficient, supervised training is crucial for people at risk of diabetes, hypertension, or cardiovascular disease. WB-EMS has shown promising results in improving strength, function, and even some metabolic parameters.
Longevity movement: Around the globe, people are looking for ways to extend healthspan, not just lifespan. WB-EMS contributes to this by targeting one of the key factors of healthy aging – muscle preservation.
GLP-1 medications (weight-loss injections): These drugs help reduce fat, but often at the cost of muscle mass. WB-EMS can be a perfect complement, ensuring patients maintain strength and mobility while losing weight.

International Perspective: A Global Movement

WB-EMS is increasingly becoming an international phenomenon.

In Europe, the technology is widely established, with hundreds of studios and therapy providers offering WB-EMS.
In the United Kingdom, however, the market still has significant catch-up potential, offering large growth opportunities.
In North America, interest is growing dynamically, driven by the same global factors: demand for time-efficient workouts, aging populations, and the rise of personalized health promotion.

The systematic review thus not only secures the scientific foundation for WB-EMS but also supports its international expansion as a training method for the future.

Guidelines and Professional Supervision

The effectiveness and safety of WB-EMS depend critically on guideline-compliant application. International recommendations emphasize:

Professional supervision by qualified trainers
A maximum trainer-to-client ratio of 1:2
Careful screening for contraindications
A gradual build-up of intensity, particularly for beginners

When these standards are followed, WB-EMS is one of the safest and most effective exercise technologies currently available.

Conclusion: WB-EMS as a Training Method for the Future

The scientific evidence is clear: WB-EMS is safe, highly attractive, and ensures remarkable training consistency. It is not only a modern training trend but also a sustainable, evidence-based solution for the pressing challenges of our time: aging societies, sedentary lifestyles, and the need for time-efficient, joint-friendly exercise.

When applied under professional supervision and in accordance with international guidelines, WB-EMS can deliver substantial benefits across fitness, therapy, and prevention.

The review by Kemmler et al. (2025) confirms what practitioners have observed for years: WB-EMS is more than an innovation – it is a training technology with global relevance and the potential to shape the future of health promotion.

Literaturverzeichnis:

Kemmler W. et al. Safety, Attractiveness and Training Consistency of Whole-Body Electromyostimulation – A Systematic Review. (2025).
58 studies, >2,000 participants.