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Empowering Health: Acute Psychological Effects of an Electromyostimulation-Whole-Body-Workout

Not Applicable
Conditions
Depression
Interventions
Behavioral: whole-body-workout
Device: EMS
Device: EMS-Placebo
Registration Number
NCT04211493
Lead Sponsor
Charite University, Berlin, Germany
Brief Summary

The study investigates the acute psychological effects of a whole-body-workout using Electromyostimulation (EMS) in participants with depression and healthy individuals.

Detailed Description

EMS-whole-body-workouts are less time-consuming and effort-intensive but generate physical effects which are comparable to conventional strength training. Therefore EMS could lower the barrier to physical activity. The present study focusses on acute psychological effects of an EMS workout - especially with regard to the reduction of depressive symptoms. Physical activity is notably important for patients with depression and shows multiple positive psychological and physical effects. But due to disease-related factors like lethargy, physical activity is far too rarely implemented. Therefore EMS-whole-body-workouts could provide an opportunity to generate positive psychological effects through a less (subjective) cost-intense strength training.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
34
Inclusion Criteria
  • Subject familiarized with experimental procedure and had given written informed consent
  • Depression, according to ICD-10
  • BDI-II Score ≥ 14
  • Able to understand German
  • Reachability of participant for the two training sessions
Exclusion Criteria
  • Contraindications for physical exercise
  • Contraindications for EMS-use
  • Current EMS-use
  • Pregnancy
  • Borderline personality disorder
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Schizophrenia
  • Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa
  • Dementia
  • Acute suicidality
  • Substance dependencies with actual consumption (except nicotine)

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Experimental-ConditionEMS20 minutes whole-body-workout with simultaneous muscle stimulation (EMS). Participants carry out easy whole-body-exercises while wearing a EMS-vest-belt-system with interwoven electrodes. During the workout the muscles are simultaneously stimulated by those external electrodes with medium level (5) of stimulation intensity.
Experimental-Conditionwhole-body-workout20 minutes whole-body-workout with simultaneous muscle stimulation (EMS). Participants carry out easy whole-body-exercises while wearing a EMS-vest-belt-system with interwoven electrodes. During the workout the muscles are simultaneously stimulated by those external electrodes with medium level (5) of stimulation intensity.
Placebo-ConditionEMS-Placebo20 minutes whole-body-workout without simultaneous muscle stimulation (EMS). Participants carry out easy whole-body-exercises while wearing a EMS-vest-belt-system with interwoven electrodes. During the workout they are stimulated with the lowest possible stimulation intensity (1). This is perceptible as a slight tingling sensation but the impulse intensity lies below the muscular threshold and therefore generates no muscular activity.
Placebo-Conditionwhole-body-workout20 minutes whole-body-workout without simultaneous muscle stimulation (EMS). Participants carry out easy whole-body-exercises while wearing a EMS-vest-belt-system with interwoven electrodes. During the workout they are stimulated with the lowest possible stimulation intensity (1). This is perceptible as a slight tingling sensation but the impulse intensity lies below the muscular threshold and therefore generates no muscular activity.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in depressive symptomsFrom directly before the intervention to immediately after the intervention - both: before/after the EMS-training-session and before/after the Placebo-session

Depressive symptoms are measured using the State-Scale of the State-Trait Depression Scales (STDS) by Spaderna, Schmukle \& Krohne (2002). The SDTS State-Scale has two subscales with each 5 likert scaled items with values ranging from 1 to 4. Higher scores mean a worse outcome for the first subscale and a better outcome for the second subscale.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in anxiety symptomsFrom directly before the intervention to immediately after the intervention - both: before/after the EMS-training-session and before/after the Placebo-session

Anxiety symptoms are measured using the the State-Scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) by Laux, Glanzmann, Schaffner \& Spielberger (1981). The STAI State-Scale has 20 likert scaled items with values ranging from 1 to 4, higher scores mean a worse outcome.

Change in general self-efficacyFrom directly before the intervention to immediately after the intervention - both: before/after the EMS-training-session and before/after the Placebo-session

General self-efficacy is measured using the General-Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) by Jerusalem \& Schwarzer (1981). The GSE has 10 likert scaled items with values ranging from 1 to 4, higher scores mean a better outcome.

Change in intention for physical activityFrom directly before the intervention to immediately after the intervention - both: before/after the EMS-training-session and before/after the Placebo-session

Intention for physical activity is measured using two likert scaled items by Petzold et al. (2017). Values ranging from 1 to 4, higher scores mean a better outcome.

Change in self-efficacy regarding physical activityFrom directly before the intervention to immediately after the intervention - both: before/after the EMS-training-session and before/after the Placebo-session

Self-efficacy is measured using two likert scaled items by Petzold et al. (2017). Values ranging from 1 to 4, higher scores mean a better outcome.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin - Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

🇩🇪

Berlin, Germany

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