Electronic muscle stimulators are used to cause muscle contractions via the application of an electrical current to a muscle. They are FDA approved for many uses, most of them related to medical therapy. Electronic stimulation has also been used by some athletes to improve performance. When properly used, these devices are safe, however, care should be taken with certain medical conditions.
History
Luigi Galvani is the father of electronic muscle stimulators. In 1791 he showed that electrical current could cause muscle contractions. As a result, during the 1800 and 1990s researchers worked to figure out exactly what aspects of electricity were responsible for this activity. In the process, they discovered that electrical current can actually cause changes within the muscle. Since then, research has worked to determine the effects of electricity on muscles, nerve cells and blood vessels.
Identification
Electronic muscle stimulation (EMS) causes muscles to adapt via the use of electrical current. Since each type of muscle varies in its properties, the degree to which they can be trained varies depending on the type of muscle. Additionally, different kinds of electrical stimulation will give different results. As a result, some kinds of EMS can be used to prevent fatigue, while other kinds can be used to increase the force that a muscle can generate.
Types
EMS is primarily used for two reasons: medical therapy and for aesthetic purposes. For the former, EMS is used to help prevent muscle atrophy from disuse of the muscle. By electrically contracting the muscle, the gradual withering process that is triggered when a muscle is not used can be counteracted. This can be especially useful for patients who are temporarily unable to use a muscle for an extended period of time but hope to not lose strength and function. EMS can also be used to help tone muscles by contracting them without the use of actual exercise.
Misconceptions
Several EMS machines target the abdominal muscles. The most commonly advertised are the Ab Energizer, the ABtronic and Fast Abs. The makers of these machines have been charged by the Federal Trade Commission as making false promises. The FTC has alleged that these ads promise fat- and inch-loss, which, according to the FTC is very difficult since these machines do not cause sufficient contractions to significantly burn calories. The FTC also charges that the devices will not produce "well-defined" abdominal muscles and that they are not similar in effect to traditional abdominal workout routines, such as crunches.
Warning
While in many settings these devices are safe, there are some conditions that make the use of EMS machine unsafe. EMS machines should not be used by people with pacemakers or what other implanted metallic or electronic devices. They should also not be used on inflammed and swollen areas, or areas that have been affected by cancerous lesions. In addition, these devices have not been shown to be safe for pregnant females, or on the chest area. In addition, while it is possible to generate muscle tone and strength using EMS, most mainstream devices do not use sufficient electrical current to generate massive results. While many athletes do use EMS to train, the current is generally much greater and elicits more pain that standard commercial devices.
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