Safety

EMS and rhabdomyolysis: risk, symptoms and prevention

Rhabdomyolysis is the one serious, documented risk of whole-body EMS. It is rare, it is nearly always linked to the first sessions, and it is preventable.

By the bestEMSsuits.com editorial teamUpdated September 2026Published by VB USA LLC (VisionBody)

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If you have symptoms now: dark or cola-coloured urine, severe muscle pain, weakness or swelling after an EMS session need urgent medical attention. Do not wait.

What rhabdomyolysis is

When muscle fibres are badly damaged, they release their contents into the blood, including the enzyme creatine kinase (CK) and the protein myoglobin. In large amounts, myoglobin can harm the kidneys. Any extreme, unaccustomed exercise can cause it. EMS carries a particular risk because it works a very large muscle mass at once and can push muscles beyond what voluntary effort allows.[1]

What has been measured

After a first exhaustive whole-body EMS session, CK values from 1,000 up to 240,000 U/L have been reported, peaking 72 to 96 hours afterwards.[1] The 2023 guideline cites peak values in novices of 2,366 to 143,674 IU/l. After ten weeks of weekly conditioning, the same kind of session produced 335 to 1,987 IU/l.[2] The body adapts quickly, which is why the build-up phase matters so much.

Case reports

  • Two professional footballers after EMS sessions, one with a CK of 240,000 U/L.[3]
  • A 31-year-old woman hospitalised after a single 20-minute session.[4]
  • A 46-year-old athlete who developed rhabdomyolysis and gluteal compartment syndrome after one session.[5]
  • A patient with a CK of 19,534 IU/L after one 25-minute session, who recovered in six days.[6]

A review counted nine published cases, “preferentially after the first application”, and advises anyone with a history of rhabdomyolysis to avoid whole-body EMS.[7] Note that fit athletes are not protected: muscles unused to this kind of stimulus react strongly whatever your fitness.

How to prevent it

  • Keep the first sessions short and moderate: about 4 out of 10 effort.
  • Train once a week for the first 8 to 10 weeks.
  • Later, leave at least four days between intense sessions.
  • Drink enough before and after training.
  • Do not train when ill, dehydrated or after alcohol.
  • Tell your trainer or doctor about any previous rhabdomyolysis or muscle disease.

The full schedule is in our safe start plan.

Keeping it in perspective

Millions of EMS sessions take place every year, and the published case count is small. Nearly every case involved a first or early session at very high intensity. Follow the build-up schedule and the risk becomes very low. Ignore it and no suit, however well certified, will protect you.

Frequently asked questions

Can EMS training cause rhabdomyolysis?

Yes, in rare cases, nearly always after a first or early session at too high an intensity. Building up slowly over 8 to 10 weeks largely prevents it.

What are the symptoms of rhabdomyolysis after EMS?

Dark, cola-coloured urine, severe muscle pain or weakness, and swelling, usually one to four days after the session. Seek urgent medical attention.

Sources

  1. Teschler M, Mooren FC (2019). (Whole-body) electromyostimulation, muscle damage, and immune system: a mini review. Frontiers in Physiology 10:1461 – doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.01461
  2. Kemmler W, et al. (2023). Position statement and updated international guideline for safe and effective whole-body electromyostimulation training. Frontiers in Physiology 14:1174103 – doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2023.1174103
  3. Kästner A, Braun M, Meyer T (2015). Two cases of rhabdomyolysis after training with electromyostimulation by 2 young male professional soccer players. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine 25(6):e71-3 – doi.org/10.1097/jsm.0000000000000153
  4. Nordberg CL, et al. (2023). Rhabdomyolysis in a young woman after whole-body electromyostimulation training. Ugeskrift for Laeger 185(39):V05230312 – pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37873991/
  5. von Deneen KM, Alemayehu DG, Khosla A (2024). Acute compartment syndrome and rhabdomyolysis caused by a single electrical muscle stimulation in a 46-year-old female professional athlete: a case report. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine 34(5):506-508 – doi.org/10.1097/jsm.0000000000001216
  6. Mallek W, Kechida M, Jellad A (2025). Electromyostimulation-induced rhabdomyolysis: a case report and comprehensive literature review. Cureus 17(10):e95125 – doi.org/10.7759/cureus.95125
  7. Stöllberger C, Finsterer J (2019). Side effects of whole-body electro-myo-stimulation. Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift 169(7-8):173-180 – doi.org/10.1007/s10354-018-0655-x