• Fitness

The Power Duo: 3 Reasons You Should Combine EMS Training with Strength Training

Find out how combining EMS training with traditional strength training can accelerate your fitness gains.


Kelsey Maloney

Kelsey Maloney

September 22, 2023

The Power Duo: 3 Reasons You Should Combine EMS Training with Strength Training

In the quest for a fit and healthy body, finding the right combination of exercise techniques is key. One powerful duo that has caught the attention of fitness enthusiasts is the combination of electro muscle stimulation (EMS) training with traditional strength training.

This innovative approach offers a unique set of benefits that can take your fitness journey to the next level. Keep reading to learn three reasons why you should consider incorporating EMS training alongside your strength training routine.

3 Reasons To Combine EMS Training with Strength Training

In this 2019 study, researchers suggest that the combination of strength training and EMS may promote alterations in muscle strength and muscle thickness in healthy active participants. While combining the two can drive multiple benefits, below we focus on the top three including:

1. Amplified Muscle Activation

One of the most significant advantages of EMS training is its ability to simultaneously engage a higher percentage of motor units within your muscles compared to traditional strength training alone. Motor units are responsible for muscle contractions, and EMS employs electrical impulses to directly stimulate these motor units, helping you to achieve more complete muscle activation. 

By activating a larger number of motor units simultaneously, EMS enhances muscle fiber recruitment, leading to more intense and effective contractions. This increased muscle activation can significantly amplify your strength training efforts, allowing you to achieve greater muscle development and overall gains in performance.

2. Enhanced Recovery and Injury Prevention

Integrating EMS training into your strength training routine can also promote improved recovery and reduce the risk of injury. The electrical impulses of EMS stimulate blood flow, facilitating the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to your muscles.

This increased blood flow helps to remove metabolic waste products, such as lactic acid, which can cause muscle fatigue and soreness. Faster muscle recovery means less downtime between workouts, allowing you to train more frequently and consistently. 

Additionally, EMS training can strengthen and stabilize key muscle groups, which can help prevent imbalances and reduce the risk of injuries, ensuring you stay on track with your fitness goals.

3. Time Efficiency and Targeted Workouts

EMS offers a time-efficient solution to your busy schedule that complements your strength training sessions. With EMS, you can achieve a full-body workout in as little as 20 minutes, as the electrical impulses stimulate your muscles at a much higher intensity than traditional training methods. These shorter, more intense sessions can save you valuable time while producing comparable or even superior results. 

EMS training is also highly adaptable, allowing you to target specific muscle groups and address imbalances directly. By tailoring your EMS workouts, you can focus on weaker areas or enhance the strength of particular muscle groups, all while concurrently performing strength exercises.

A Word From Katalyst

Combining EMS training with traditional strength training presents a compelling strategy for those looking to maximize their fitness gains. The amplified muscle activation, enhanced recovery, injury prevention, time efficiency, and targeted workouts offered by EMS training provide a range of benefits that can accelerate your progress and help you achieve your fitness goals. 

So, why limit yourself to traditional training alone when you can enhance your performance and optimize your results with EMS training? Give it a try and unlock your body's full potential!

About the author

Kelsey Maloney

Kelsey Maloney

Kelsey is a Copywriter at Katalyst and a New Jersey native living out her California dream in San Diego. She started her career honing her writing skills at Sunset Magazine before a rewarding four-year stint at Fitbit and Google as a Writer and Editor. Beyond crafting words, Kelsey is an outdoor adventurer at heart—be it beachside, in the mountains, or exploring abroad. With a passion for movement, she's all about running, hiking, and all things active!