EFFECTIVENESS OF WHOLE-BODY ELECTROSTIMULATION TRAINING COMPARED TO CONVENTIONAL EXERCISES ON MUSCLE STRENGTH AND FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY IN THE ELDERLY

Introduction: Whole-body electrostimulation is defined as an electrical stimulation for the whole body, transmitted through a specific vest, uses impulses of external current to the muscles, it favors the recruitment and activation of fast and slow motor muscle fibers. It is a less exhaustive modality when compared to traditional physical activities. Objective: To analyze the effectiveness of training with whole-body electrostimulation compared to conventional exercises on muscle strength and functional capacity in the elderly. Methodology: This is an integrative literature review study, of the qualitative type, with a descriptive approach. The bibliographic search was carried out in the Virtual Library of the United States, Virtual Health Library and Physiotherapy Evidence Database. Articles published in the period from 2020 to 2025 were analyzed. Results and Discussion: Using the search strategy, 473 articles were found, 265 in the PubMed database, 16 in the VHL database, 07 in PEDro and 185 in the Cochrane Library platform. However, only four studies were included, all randomised controlled trials that addressed the effect of muscle stretching and strengthening in children with spastic cerebral palsy. The selection was based on the methodological quality of the articles. Conclusion: Whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) is a technology that presents a safe, effective, and innovative strategy. Therefore, it becomes an alternative alone or as a complement to conventional exercise training, especially in contexts of rehabilitation and prevention of functional decline