How An Electronic Muscle Stimulator Can Help During Training

Have you ever used electronic muscle stimulators? Most people use electronic muscle stimulators for muscle recovery. But did you know that electronic muscle stimulators can also be used for training purposes?

EMS has received increasing attention in the last few years because of its potential to serve as a strength training tool for healthy subjects and athletes, a rehabilitation and preventive tool for partially or totally immobilized patients, a testing tool for evaluating the neural and/or muscular function in vivo, and a post-exercise recovery tool for athletes.

Source: electrical muscle stimulation

How electronic muscle stimulators came into use

Let’s take a little journey back in time for a second.  Let’s find out how electronic muscle stimulators came to be in the first place. Back in 1711, Leo Galvani was the first who found out that current can produce movement in a muscle. During the 60’s, the Soviets experimented with electrical stimulation on athletes, later claiming they had achieved 40% force gains using this method.

Electric stimulators were (and still are) most commonly used for rehabilitation methods and as health products. Electric stimulators were designed to keep muscles from atrophying by combining muscle cells with electricity.

This caused the muscles to contract and it kept them busy in cases where a limb had to be immobilized or in patients that were comatose. Over the past two decades, various devices have been constructed for the purpose of treatment for patients that suffer from a variety of illnesses.

I am talking about illnesses like cancer and chronic heart failure, patients who had gone through orthopedic surgery, etc. The initial success of electronic stimulators later triggered an interest in electronic muscle stimulation (EMS) as a method for complementing other forms of voluntary training. Today, electronic muscle stimulators are widely used both in rehabilitation and as fitness and health products. electronic muscle stimulator

How does an electronic muscle stimulator work?

Basically, during exercise, or any movement of your muscles whatsoever, your brain sends electrical impulses through your spinal cord. Your brain sends the electrical impulses to all the muscles you’re currently using, “telling” them to contract and relax. This is called voluntary muscle action, when you, i.e. your brain is in direct control of your muscles.

The electronic muscle stimulators mimic these electrical impulses, triggering an involuntary reaction of your muscles. Our muscles are made out of different types of fibers. The slow twitch fiber is the first in line when voluntary muscle action is triggered. Though the slow twitch fiber isn’t energy demanding, it’s not very powerful either.

The fast twitch fiber on the other hand, though not as durable, packs a lot more firepower. Our brain coordinates these two types of fibers during voluntary muscle action, creating a kind of wave throughout the entire muscle. Also, as a last resort, the brain regulates a third type of fiber, the anaerobic fast twitch fiber, which is directly correlated with our anaerobic threshold.

The anaerobic fast twitch fiber also correlates with our VO2max, which indicates the amount of oxygen our muscles use during an intensive workout. It has been shown that regular training of both the fast and the anaerobic fast twitch result in a better VO2max capacity, which is very important for an athlete.

Why electronic muscle stimulators are helpful during training

When electronic muscle stimulation is implemented, all the motoneurons in the designated muscle fiber at the same time, thus triggering an uncoordinated contraction. This is quite important, as some of these fibers are very hard to utilize during voluntary muscle action, most of which are fast twitch fibers.

This electronic stimulation phases on and off, thus mimicking the conventional workout. If the electronic stimulation is done right, it results in an increased muscle tone and stronger muscle fibers. Used properly and accompanied by regular, traditional training and exercise, electronic muscle stimulation can help with muscle hypertrophy. It specifically helps by increasing muscle strength and endurance.

how compex works

Electronic muscle stimulation allows you to get more out of regular training sessions.  Therefore, the result is an increase in body temperature. With regular workouts, this can help you speed up your metabolism, helping your body with fat absorption.

The active recovery principle can be augmented using electronic muscle stimulation, since this has been recently proven to be much more effective than other recovery methods. This is of crucial importance, since EMS has been proven to help with the removal of exercise byproducts, such as metabolites and other chemicals that are responsible for the inflammation of the muscle.

Thanks to electronic muscle stimulators, no one will have to skip days after a rough training. Electronic muscle stimulators like Compex consist of multiple programs, each meant for a different result. Since EMS can induce different types of contraction, these programs are meant for reaching a specific goal, such as muscle strength, endurance, post-training recovery, etc. It all depends on what the user wants.

Compex – a global leader in electrostimulation

The great thing about electronic muscle stimulators is that anyone can use them. It doesn’t matter whether you are an athlete, a bodybuilder or just someone who exercises at home. But since there are different types of electronic muscle stimulators, how do you know which one is ideal for you?

Compex has been the one of the leading innovators in electrotherapy. Compex’s EMS products are used by athletes and health care professionals. Compex enables you to build muscle strength and get bigger. But that’s not all.

You also get to increase your power and endurance with Compex’s EMS products. When you are done with the training, your muscles get to recover properly with a Compex-made stimulator. And since you get to use this simulator to warm up easily in the first place, the strain on your muscles is decreased throughout the workout.

You don’t need to alter your current training program if you opt for a Compex electronic muscle stimulator. You simply continue with your current training and just complement it with a Compex product. As a result of using this electronic muscle stimulator, you get to train faster and more efficiently.

The Compex electronic muscle stimulator has 5 intensity levels that help you progress while training. Your muscles get stimulated during a training session, which makes recovery faster and easier. As a result of faster recovery, you get to train more efficiently without wasting extra time.

With the Compex electronic muscle stimulator, you will get various benefits. One of those benefits is the ability to increase your oxygen consumption. When you do endurance training, your primary goal is to maximize your oxygen consumption.

Your muscles will be healthier since Compex-made stimulators reduce muscular and osteoarticular damage. Training will become easier since fatigue will decrease during training. Compex-original electronic muscle stimulators also improve explosive strength.

Find the full line or Compex muscle stimulators and other performance monitors at HEAmotivation.

Benefits of a Muscle Stimulation Device

compex modelsWhat exactly is an electric muscle stimulator? In short it is a machine that can work your muscles for you. When you walk, run, or move in any way your muscles move when your brain tells them to contract. An electric current is sent from your brain to the muscle telling it to contract. Now enter the muscle stimulator device, it merely replicates the same action of your brain and tells the muscles to contract.

Muscles cannot tell the difference between a voluntary contraction triggered by the brain and an electrically induced contraction.

Other terms that you may read about all refer to the same process, you may also read about electro muscle stimulation (EMS), electrostimulation, or similar phrases.

Benefits of a Muscle Stimulation Device

Muscle stimulation has many benefits and is used for both recovery and muscle training. When using a device for muscle stimulation there is no cardiovascular strain or mental fatigue. Benefits include but are not limited to:

  • Easing lower back pain
  • Alleviating neck pain
  • Recovering faster and better after exertion
  • Improving stamina and endurance
  • Gaining strength and speed
  • Improving blood circulation
  • Preventing twisted ankles
  • Significantly improving your abdominal muscles
  • and more

How Compex Muscle Stimulators Work

This video shows you specifically how a Compex device works and how electro muscle stimulation woks.

Compare Compex Muscle Stimulators

There are three models, the Edge, Compex Performance, and Compex Sport Elite. The main differences are the programs that are included with each. When you use the device you set a particular program. For example you may want a warm-up program, or endurance workout for your muscles, recovery, massage and other programs. Here is a Compex comparison chart showing the programs that each has, and a list of what each program does below it.

compare compex muscle stimulators

  • Potentiation : Optimizes muscle potential before a workout or competition.
  • Endurance : Targets slow twitch muscle fibers.
  • Resistance : Targets both slow and fast twitch muscle fibers. Builds muscle size, strength and density.
  • Strength : Targets fast twitch muscle fibers. Increases sheer strength.
  • Explosive Strength : Targets fast twitch fibers located in large muscle tissue. Improves “explosive” muscle movements.
  • Active Recovery : Produces a muscle twitch. Clears lactic acid, increases blood flow.
  • Recovery Plus : Produces a muscle twitch.
  • Pre-Warmup : Produces a muscle twitch.
  • Massage : Produces a muscle twitch.

Compex Devices

The Compex devices assist with increasing muscle strength, muscle size, endurance, and explosive strength as well as muscle recovery. These devices are cleared by the FDA. Now let’s be clear about why you use electrostimulation. It is not meant to be a replacement for traditional strength training exercises. But it does allow you to attain results that were previously unachievable through strength training alone. Use electrostimulation to complement your existing sports training program and recovery.

Environmentally Friendly Laundry Detergent

sport suds on a washing machineBelieve it or not, there is an environmentally friendly laundry detergent and its name is Sport Suds. Not only is it created with many positive qualities but it is very effective, particularly on the grime and smells that come along with those who are very active in their clothes. Whether it be the grime from a day job or the smell from sports, Sport Suds does the job well.

The Sport Suds laundry detergent is eco-friendly and people friendly, more on that below. It is not often that someone comes along and takes an every day product like detergent and makes it better. It is suitable for anything washed in water.

Sport Suds is non-fragranced, hypoallergenic and non-toxic.

Originally the detergent was created for sports enthusiasts. If it works for the sweatiest of them all then it can work for the whole family. The goal was to remove the most extreme dirt and odors to leave everyone feeling and smelling clean and fresh.

All Sport Suds products are made from naturally occurring materials. The product is biodegradable, non-toxic, and septic and grey water safe. They are also gentle, hypoallergenic, non-toxic and fragrance free. They never test on animals.

Is there a laundry detergent that is earth friendly?
Glad you asked. All Sport Suds products are made from naturally occurring ingredients of non-animal origin. The detergent does not contain dyes, phosphates, UV brighteners, bleaches or perfumes. All Sport Suds products are safe for septic and grey water systems, highly biodegradable and certified safe for use in small lakes and streams.

Sport Suds Laundry Detergent is:

  • Biodegradable
  • Non-toxic and Hypoallergenic
  • Free of dyes, phosphates, UV brighteners, perfumes and bleach
  • Grey water and septic safe
  • Not animal tested and contains no animal products

sport suds

Is there a laundry detergent that is hypoallergenic and fragrance free?
Many people would call this “people friendly”, that is a product that is hypoallergenic and fragrance free. The Sport Suds laundry detergent is hypoallergenic, non-toxic, fragrance free, free from bleach, parabens, harsh sulphates and other questionable ingredients and gentle for everyday use.

Can laundry detergent help my sports clothes perform better?
SportSuds is particularly effective on microfiber woven fabrics. How it works is that it unclogs the pores of waterproof breathable fabrics and therefore leaves them open and clear.

There are many benefits of Sport Suds laundry detergent:

  • Clothes feel lighter and cleaner
  • Fabric fibers are totally clean
  • Fabrics don’t feel ‘crunchy’ when dry or ‘greasy’ when wet
  • Cleans microfiber fabrics to make you feel cooler, drier and more comfortable
  • Sport garments last longer and perform better

SISU Mouthguards

The SISU Mouthguard was created by Dr. Jan Akervall, MD, PhD. He is a top 1% ENT (Ear Nose Throat) Doctor in the U.S. & Creator of SISU™ Mouth Guard. There are two sizes of mouth guards and they range from 30% to 60% stronger than conventional mouthguards while also being 30% to 60% thinner. Unlike conventional mouthguards you can talk, breathe and drink with these SISU guards. You can also mould, and remould them as many times as you like. Typical mouthguards can only be molded once.

sisu mouthguards

What makes SISU so much better?

stronger and lighter mouthguardsSISU is a novel ultra thin and tough mouth guard that is stronger than conventional mouth guards and allows users to breathe, talk and drink. It is an excellent mouth guard for high impact sports, team sports and high performance sports where you need to be able to be at your very best, all the time.

SISU competitors claim that they not only provide dental protection but also protects against concussions. SISU beats its competitors in 4 important material characteristics:

  • 30-50% lower transfer of impact forces to the teeth
  • 90-140% better absorption of impact forces
  • 8 times higher tensile strength (toughness)
  • 30 times less deformation of the material upon impact

SISU is perforated and there are several reasons why the perforations are important:

  • They help strengthen the material by oscillate under impact, pretty much like how bridges are built.
  • The perforations will help with the fitting of the material because it allows for the saliva to flow through the holes. This will give you a very snug fit, ensuring that your can communicate with your teammates – in an understandable way. You will also be able to breathe without problem when you wear a SISU Mouth Guard.
  • You will experience less drooling when wearing your SISU, and you can drink with it in.

talk breathe drink

How to Fit a Mouth Guard

SISU mouth guards are simple to fit to a perfect shape around your teeth. It is a quick and easy procedure.

Here are the steps:

  • Wash your hands and the material with soap and water.
  • Heat water in small bowl (hot to the touch, but not boiling). Place the material into hot water until it turns transparent. Then lift it out of the water with a fork or your fingers.
  • Hold the soft material as shown in the picture. DO NOT LET IT FOLD! The material will glue together, making it hard to reshape.

fit guide picture 1

  • Tilt the head back and open the mouth widely. Place the front teeth so they can gently bite down on the solid cross bar. Press the tongue against the palate. Most of the material should be on the outside of the teeth.

fit guide picture 1

  • Use a mirror. Mold it against the front of the teeth with your fingertips and up on the sides to the gum line to create the shield. Make sure it covers the outside of the molars.
  • Close the lips over the mouth guard and gently create a suction until the material has hardened to get a snug fit. If you are not satisfied with the result just slip the mouth guard into the water, let it soften and straighten out . . . and start all over again.

Cleaning and Storage

Rinse the SISU™ mouth guard thoroughly in lukewarm tap water and soap, alternatively mouth wash, each time it has been used. Additionally, the mouth guard can be brushed with a regular toothbrush using regular tooth paste. Carefully rinse and dry before storage. Store your custom fitted SISU mouth guard at room temperature under dry conditions.