Recommended Contraindications for the Use of Non-Medical WB-Electromyostimulation

Kemmler W, Weißenfels A, Willert S, Fröhlich M, Ludwig O, Berger J, Zart S, Becker S, Backfisch M, Kleinöder H, Dörmann U, Wirtz N, Wegener B, Konrad KL, Eifler C, Krug J, Zinner C, Müller S, Vatter J, Authenrieth S, Beisswenger T, Teschler M, von Stengel S (2019)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2019

Journal

Book Volume: 70

Pages Range: 278-282

Journal Issue: 11

DOI: 10.5960/dzsm.2019.401

Abstract

Rare but regularly recurring complications are leading to ongoing regulation of the commercial, non-medical whole-body electromyostimulation  (WB-EMS) market. In addition to the revised German Radiation Protection Statutes  (NiSV), the “Deutsche Industrie Norm”  (DIN) 33961-5 was recently published with safety policies for WB-EMS application, anchoring both relative and absolute contraindications for WB-EMS for the first time. The purpose of this article is to justify the rationale of contraindications in a commercial setting and to support their consistent application. › While the relative contraindications appear plausible and uncritical, absolute contraindications for WB-EMS are much more debatable. In fact, some absolute contraindications  (e.g. diabetes mellitus) could be safely addressed by WB-EMS at least after careful medical anamnesis and competent, close supervision. However, this requires sound knowledge of WB-EMS on the part of physicians and instructors, low user-trainer ratios and prompt medical care in an emergency. › However, considering the multitude of different settings of commercial WB-EMS, in extreme cases with hardly supervised, only video-guided WB-EMS sessions, the necessary accurateness and expertise for safe WB-EMS is not always guaranteed. That there is no mandatory licensing of WB-EMS instructors, the key players in WB-EMS, underscores the concern. › Whilst acknowledging the multitude of high-quality suppliers, it is advised that the commercial, non-medical WB-EMS sector as a whole to be wary of indications with significantly increased complication potential. Lastly, the mandatory acceptance of the contraindications listed in DIN 33961-5 might be considered as an inevitable step towards preventing overregulation by official authorities.

Authors with CRIS profile

Involved external institutions

Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln Germany (DE) Technische Universität Kaiserslautern Germany (DE) Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft des Saarlandes Germany (DE) GluckerKolleg Germany (DE) Hessische Hochschule für Polizei und Verwaltung Germany (DE) Universität Witten/Herdecke Germany (DE) Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Germany (DE) Institute for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention United States (USA) (US)

How to cite

APA:

Kemmler, W., Weißenfels, A., Willert, S., Fröhlich, M., Ludwig, O., Berger, J.,... von Stengel, S. (2019). Recommended Contraindications for the Use of Non-Medical WB-Electromyostimulation. Deutsche Zeitschrift für Sportmedizin, 70(11), 278-282. https://dx.doi.org/10.5960/dzsm.2019.401

MLA:

Kemmler, Wolfgang, et al. "Recommended Contraindications for the Use of Non-Medical WB-Electromyostimulation." Deutsche Zeitschrift für Sportmedizin 70.11 (2019): 278-282.

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