---
title: "Evidence: electrical muscle contraction"
description: "Intradialytic electrical muscle stimulation improved muscle strength, size, and physical function in hemodialysis patients."
url: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s174.md"
canonical: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s174.html"
html: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s174.html"
type: "study"
study_key: "s174"
journal: "Artif Organs"
year: 2018
pmid: "30069942"
doi: "10.1111/aor.13161"
citations: 1
updated: 2026-09-02
author: "Gabriel Radu, DO"
author_credentials: "Physiatrist (PM&R). NY medical license 275110. NPI 1376861765."
publisher: "Magellan Longevity"
content_format: "markdown"
---

# Evidence: electrical muscle contraction

[Home](https://magellanlongevity.com/) › [Research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) › Evidence: electrical muscle contraction

**HTML version:** https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s174.html · **In the Magellan app:** https://magellanlongevity.com/#/study/s174

## Citation

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Journal | Artif Organs |
| Year | 2018 |
| PMID | [30069942](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30069942/) |
| DOI | [10.1111/aor.13161](https://doi.org/10.1111/aor.13161) |
| Study key | s174 |

## Takeaway

Intradialytic electrical muscle stimulation improved muscle strength, size, and physical function in hemodialysis patients.

## The question

Can intradialytic electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) improve muscle wasting, weakness, and sarcopenia in hemodialysis (HD) patients?

## Hypothesis

Intradialytic EMS will improve quadriceps muscle strength and size, and physical function in HD patients.

## Methods

This was a prospective, open-label, randomized controlled trial. Twenty-nine HD patients were randomly assigned to either an EMS group or a control group, with 13 patients in each group analyzed. The EMS group received intradialytic EMS over an 8-week period. Measurements included isometric knee extensor strength, quadriceps cross-sectional area (CSA) via MRI, Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), SF-8 Health Survey, and blood tests, performed before and after the intervention.

## Results

The EMS group showed significant improvement compared to the control group in knee extensor strength (right: 22.3 vs. -10.8 N; left: 26.1 vs. -8.3 N), quadriceps CSA at three positions (25% right: 1.7 vs. -0.4 cm; 25% left: 1.3 vs. -0.6 cm; 50% right: 2.0 vs. -0.7 cm; 50% left: 2.7 vs. -0.7 cm; 75% right: 1.8 vs. -0.7 cm; 75% left: 2.1 vs. -0.4 cm), and TUG time (-0.8 vs. 0.2 s). Improvements in SF-8 components in the EMS group were not statistically significant.

## Conclusion

Intradialytic electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) can be an effective exercise training tool for hemodialysis patients experiencing muscle wasting, weakness, or sarcopenia.

## Limitations

The study was open-label, which might introduce bias. The sample size for analysis was relatively small, with 13 patients in each group.

## Verbatim from the abstract

> electrical muscle stimulation improved quadriceps muscle strength and size

## Change in Right Knee Extensor Strength (N)

| Measure | Change in Strength (N) |
| --- | --- |
| EMS Group | 22.3 |
| Control Group | -10.8 |

*The EMS group showed a mean increase of 22.3 N in right knee extensor strength, while the control group showed a mean decrease of 10.8 N.*

## Where this study is used on Magellan

This paper is one of the citations behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of affiliate commissions.

| Compound or device | Evidence grade | Graded pages |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Electrical Muscle Stimulation Unit | Moderate evidence | [Electrical Muscle Stimulation Unit](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/174.md) |

## Reference

1. **Evidence: electrical muscle contraction**
   Artif Organs 2018 · [PMID 30069942](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30069942/) · [DOI 10.1111/aor.13161](https://doi.org/10.1111/aor.13161)

   > electrical muscle stimulation improved quadriceps muscle strength and size

## Structured data

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s174.html#page","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s174.html","name":"Evidence: electrical muscle contraction","description":"Intradialytic electrical muscle stimulation improved muscle strength, size, and physical function in hemodialysis patients.","inLanguage":"en","isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Gabriel Radu, DO","jobTitle":"Physiatrist (PM&R)","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NPI","value":"1376861765"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NY medical license","value":"275110"}]},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"encoding":{"@type":"MediaObject","encodingFormat":"text/markdown","contentUrl":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s174.md"},"dateModified":"2026-09-02"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research map","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Evidence: electrical muscle contraction","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s174.html"}]},{"@type":"ScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s174.html#study","name":"Evidence: electrical muscle contraction","headline":"Evidence: electrical muscle contraction","datePublished":"2018","isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"Artif Organs"},"identifier":"PMID:30069942","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30069942/","sameAs":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aor.13161","abstract":"Intradialytic electrical muscle stimulation improved muscle strength, size, and physical function in hemodialysis patients."}]}
```

## Related on Magellan Longevity

- [Electrical Muscle Stimulation Unit](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/174.md) — product graded on this and related evidence
- [Effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on ICU-acquired weakness in mechanically…](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d37984373.md)
- [Neuromuscular electrical stimulation after cardiovascular surgery mitigates muscle…](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d35272065.md)
- [Longevity research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html)
- [Evidence-based longevity supplements](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-supplements.md)

## Scope and disclosures

Educational information, not medical advice. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication.

Editorial firewall: evidence grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of any affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, Magellan Longevity earns from qualifying purchases.

Reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified physician (DO).