EMS - Electric Muscle Stimulation

This type of stimulation is characterized by a low volt stimulation targeted to stimulate motor nerves to cause a muscle contraction. EMS differs from TENS in that it is designed to stimulate muscle motor nerves, while TENS is designed to stimulate sensory nerve endings to help decrease pain.

What Is EMS?

EMS stands for Electrical Muscle Stimulation. It is used to prevent or reduce muscle atrophy. Atrophy is the weakening and loss of muscle tone, which is usually experienced after surgeries or injuries. EMS has proven to be an effective means increasing blood flow to muscles, increasing range of motion, increasing muscle strength, as well as enhancing muscle endurance. EMS can help reduce pain when it is caused by a muscle related pain, such as a spastic muscle, sore muscles, or tight muscles.

EMS deals with muscles, while TENS deals with nerves.

While using the EMS, the brain sends a nerve impulse to the "motor point" of your muscle which causes the muscles to expand and contract. Place the electrodes over the motor points of the muscle group to be exercised. When the EMS is applied through those pads, the signal finds its way to these motor points and causes the muscle to expand and contract. This works just like exercise, similar to an isometric exercise.

During an exercise, your brain sends a message down the spinal cord through the nerves with all the muscles you're using that causes them to relax and contract. This is called voluntary muscle action. Your brain is controlling the muscle.

Electrical muscle stimulation uses an outside electrical source to do the same thing. The current passes through your skin to the nerves in that area, causing the muscle to expand and contract.

Studies have shown that EMS stimulates large nerve axons (long outgrowths of a nerve cell body), some of which you cannot stimulate voluntarily. It is possible that EMS might allow for additional muscle hypertrophy (increased development of tissue by enlargement, without multiplication of cells).

EMS can increase muscle growth, endurance and strength. EMS may be used only for this or with regular weight training by aiding recovery and helping muscles grow and get stronger. EMS can increase body temperature, heart rate and metabolism (promoting energy and fat absorption from the body).

How Does EMS Work?

Normally when you perform an exercise, your brain sends a message through your spinal cord to nerves indicating muscles to contract. EMS uses electrical impulses to stimulate the nerve axons. These impulses reach the nerve axons, signaling the muscles to contract and relax rhythmically as instructed by the EMS unit. EMS actually stimulates muscles that you can not normally exercise voluntarily. This allows you to train muscles that may normally have little activity.

Will EMS Improve My Physical Appearance?

EMS is widely used by bodybuilders and other athletes as a supplement to strength training. Olympic athletes have been utilizing EMS to enhance their training for over twenty years. EMS is used to increase muscle tone and endurance.

For best results, many bodybuilders use EMS in conjunction with working out. A rhythmic pumping of the muscles, produced by the EMS unit, helps deliver nutrients and oxygen to the muscles. Concurrently, waste products such as lactic acid are pumped out of the muscles. This increased blood flow to the muscles cuts down on recovery time and promotes healthy muscle activity. Bodybuilders also frequently use EMS for the relaxation of muscle spasms. EMS provides an increase in range of motion, which reduces the chance of injury. Men and Women are increasingly using EMS to enhance their appearance by toning their abdominal and chest muscles.

What is the difference between our EMS device and the ones displayed on TV?

EMS was traditionally used by physical therapists and physicians to aid in the recovery of muscle related injuries. Just recently, the fitness industry has captured the muscle stimulation/growth attribute of the EMS, and has attached outrageous marketing claims such as "six pack abs in six weeks". EMS will help achieve muscle toning results; however you must supplement your therapy with a normal workout.

The "As seen on TV" EMS devices (i.e. Abtronic, Ab Energizer, Ab Buster, Ab Belt, Ab Toner etc…) lack the output parameters and controls that the EMS 1000plus has. More so, the mere design of these "As seen on TV" stimulation belts inhibit the versatility of their function. For example, an Ab belt can not be used to treat a sore knee or shoulder. Most of all, the electrodes that are used on these devices are of very poor quality, and the warranties are almost non-existent.

You may have seen ads on TV for EMS devices to reduce fat and strengthen your muscles, but those ads are no longer there.  That is because, in the U.S., the FDA requires a prescription for all electrotherapy devices, and those companies are no longer allowed to sell those devices to the general public without one.