Exploring the Potential of Electrical Muscle Stimulation-based Guidance in Remote Physical Activity Education

Remote physical activity education has limitations required for complex full-body movements. This study analyzed movement performance changes and user experiences after remote training that incorporated full-body Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) guidance. Eleven participants repeatedly performed complex full-body movements while receiving remote instruction from a trainer, reference motion videos, and time-synchronized EMS stimulation. Positional and rotational accuracy before and after training were analyzed using Dynamic Time Warping, and post-study interviews were conducted to collect EMS-related experiences. The results showed that positional accuracy improved in several movements, whereas improvements in rotational accuracy were limited. Participants perceived EMS as helpful for recognizing target muscle use and experiencing movement direction, while also reporting timing mismatches, divided attention, discomfort, and individual differences. These findings suggest that EMS guidance may be considered a supplementary embodied feedback channel in remote physical activity education.