WB-EMS and NMES – what's the difference?

What is the difference?

WB-EMS (Whole Body Electrical Muscle Stimulation)

Often referred to as muscle stimulation training. WB-EMS devices typically denote equipment used in gyms or fitness studios that, when used with garment-like accessories, can stimulate as many as 10–12 muscle groups simultaneously. These are primarily used to increase general muscle strength and endurance. For athletes, the application often aims at faster overall strength recovery after a prolonged injury, while in aesthetic use the most common application is early postpartum body shaping.

NMES (Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation)

NMES refers to a smaller, portable device intended for personal use. These are designed to provide targeted and highly precise stimulation of one, at most two, muscle groups simultaneously. They have been used in medicine to treat muscle diseases and for post-injury rehabilitation, but are now also widespread in optimizing sports performance. The impulses are delivered to the muscle not through a garment but via adhesive electrodes stuck to the skin (commonly known as TENS electrodes).

How do these technologies work?

Both WB-EMS and NMES deliver the same biphasic square-wave electrical impulses to the muscles. These imitate the natural motor signals sent from the brain to the muscles, causing them to contract.

As mentioned, WB-EMS stimulates multiple muscle groups at once, whereas NMES focuses on specific muscle groups, allowing for more precise treatment.

WB-EMS and NMES for athletes

• Increasing muscle strength: Both methods can help boost muscle strength, which is particularly useful in strength sports.
• Improving endurance: EMS and NMES programs can contribute to improving endurance, which is beneficial for long-duration sports activities.
• Speeding up recovery: When used after workouts, they can help muscles recover faster, reducing muscle soreness and the risk of injury.

Integrate into your training program

• As a supplementary training: EMS and NMES do not replace traditional training but complement it, enhancing training effectiveness.
• Targeted muscle development: NMES enables targeted training of specific muscle groups, which can be particularly useful for correcting weaknesses.
• Time efficiency: You can achieve significant results in a shorter time, ideal if you have a tight schedule.

Safety considerations

WB-EMS and NMES are safe to use if you follow general handling rules. In certain medical conditions, such as having a pacemaker, the EMS suit cannot be used. However, an NMES device can be used safely on muscles that are distant from the pacemaker.

Learn about electrotherapy contraindications.

Summary

Whole Body Electrical Muscle Stimulation (WB-EMS) and Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) can both be effective tools for enhancing sports performance, developing muscle strength and endurance, and speeding up recovery. Integrating them into your training program can help you reach your goals and improve your performance.

I should also mention that one of the most advanced types of devices for EMS training is the E-Fit system. This is a Hungarian-developed system! Learn more about them by clicking here. It's worth studying the service prices as well. You'll see this isn't a cheap "hobby." A 10-session pass can cost nearly an average monthly salary. In my view, ten sessions are at most enough to make the muscle soreness from the first few treatments subside. Meaningful results require regular use over several months, even though electrical stimulation can be more effective than traditional training. Just as visible results from gym training take months, the same applies to stimulation.

The price of a quality NMES device is far less than even a 10-session WB-EMS pass.

Click here to view the NMES devices we offer.

However, remember the limitation mentioned above: with one treatment you can focus on only one or two muscles, meaning treating multiple muscle groups is possible but multiplies the time required.

If you're aware of these points, it's easier to decide which method you need for a given problem.