A new trend in physical training, the Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS Training), is the topic of our discussion today.
Certainly, a new method, already “tested” by many celebrities, became the talk of the town lately.
EMS Training comes as a revolution in fitness, carried out by special conditions and equipment promoting:
- body fat loss (fat loss)
- extra weight loss
- muscle tightening
- body ribbing
Details of how this training is performed come in the lines below, giving you a complete picture of all basic information available and pros and cons.
More specifically, we present answers on the following key topics:
- EMS Training – what it is
- Is a method new or old?
- Reasons for selecting this method instead of conventional workout
- Duration of an EMS Training program
- Any existing risks
- To whom is this type of training aiming
- Effectiveness
- Contribution of EMS Training to weight loss
Answers on all our questions follow.
EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) Training – What it is
Table of Contents
EMS Training (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) has become a new must, as small training studios come up everywhere offering a solution to all those who wish to have a fast and effective muscle strengthening.
A training process requiring special equipment (this being the reason not found in every gym in your neighborhood).
The athlete puts on the special equipment connected to EMS Training device, injecting electrical pulses into the athlete similar to those received by a person during physiotherapy (and not dangerously high).
The electric pulses pass to all body muscles, causing their training and finally the desired tightening and ribbing.
At the same time, the strengthening of the muscle mass, promotes the fat burning and the faster loss of the unnecessary body weight not allowing the body to show its muscular ribbing.
It is a very dynamic training of the entire body and all muscle groups requiring short time, ensuring however, fast and visible results.
Just 20 minutes of training via electric pulses could change your whole body and your psychology.
Many users say that these 20 minutes provide results equal to many hours of traditional training with endless effort and sweat.
The exercises may be dynamic but also static (depending on final goal). The electrical pulse delivered via electrodes to muscles is completely safe, with no risk for the user, experiencing a completely different approach to physical training, more relaxing, pleasant and effective.
EMS – New or Old training
The use of electrical frequencies and pulses to stimulate muscles and nerves, not something presented for the first time. As early as 1761, Luigi Galvani presented for the first time tangible evidence of the ability stimulating muscles and nerves by using electricity.
This discovery was studied and later expanded by the scientific community during the 19th and 20th century finally presented today using muscle training technology exclusively with electrical stimuli.
The difference is that this technology exclusively used for therapeutic purposes, now it has passed to a completely different level aiming at improving or facilitating each person’s daily life.
EMS still used as a method of rehabilitation in injured persons or people with muscle atrophy.
However, now – coming to the present of 21st century – you will find in almost every country of the advanced western world a wellness and exercise studio offering electric pulses.
Surely, we wonder Is this a result of technological development or follows the needs of modern man always looking for fast results?
Due to the rapid application of the method (20 minutes per application), it has quickly become the most popular trend in weight loss and physical training and will be (undoubtedly) the centre of any discussions in 2021.
Why select EMS instead of a conventional workout
First, it’s effective and fast, training all muscle groups at once. The majority of muscles (almost 90% of all body muscles) come under activation by electrical supplies via special electrodes in a single cycle of contractions (probably requiring a combination of many different exercises and sufficient effort and time to achieve similar results conventionally).
Another reason for selecting the electrical muscle stimulation is its effectiveness in muscle stimulation, meaning that if you are a fan of the traditional way of training, you should know that muscle contractions achieved are weaker compared to the contractions caused by the electrical pulse, resulting to faster muscle gains and more spectacular bodyline.
Even weight training and bodybuilding do not bring satisfactory results, as experts say.
EMS Training – in a much shorter time – manages to “wake up” and “train” more muscles in depth. The result of just 20 minutes of electrical muscle stimulation would take hours of grueling workouts to achieve, not secured.
Duration
As pointed out, EMS Training is a fast training program, as in just 20 minutes the muscles of the entire body become activated, while 20 minutes correspond to about 3 hours of conventional training in gym.
Ideally, the training should be done 2-3 times (from 2 hours at a time) per week with the conventional training. With EMS Training, however, only 20 minutes per week are enough (although ideally the application of 2 sessions of 20 minutes per week is recommended)!
It may cost more than a subscription to a conventional gym, but it is much simpler as a procedure (and with much less effort), more effective and provides immediately visible results!
Are There Risks?
As electrochemical organs of the body, muscles are activated by electrical stimuli received by the CNS (Central Nervous System). The voltage used in EMS Training is therefore nothing more than a simulation of the natural process of muscle activation.
This procedure is common in treatments for the recovery of muscle injuries but also in sports training (professional athletes).
The device uses low-frequency electrical pulses quite similar to physical stimulation that the brain commands the muscles via CNS. The electrodes conduct current in body in a completely harmless way.
No side effects reported for the EMS Training method and the reviews already received from users around the world are very positive.
To whom EMS Training is addressed
Let’s make clear that this is a training system aiming at older people, over 16 years and with no health problems, the reason being that the use of electric pulses can cause or aggravate pre-existing health problems (something applying to hard training even using the conventional training way).
Health problems prohibiting the use of EMS Training without medical consent required are:
- cardiovascular diseases
- circulation problems
- tuberculosis
- pregnancy
- neurological diseases
- diabetes mellitus
- fever
- bleeding
- hemophilia
- the various viral infections
- atherosclerosis
- epilepsy
- cancer
- injuries and inflammations (when very recent)
- thrombosis
- bacterial infections
- blood pressure
It is also important to note that this method is not suitable for people with prosthetic / artificial limbs or people recently undergone surgery and people undergone surgery for addition of silicone implants (mainly for breast). A medical consent is also required before attending an EMS Training.
In general, – as a completely safe method – involves no risks. However, it is up to the treating physician to decide for each patient (depending on his or her medical history).
Especially for women – definitely wondering – EMS Training is completely safe even for the most difficult days of the season, not causing any disorders in the body not relating at any level to the hormonal system, on the contrary, the physical exercise (in a conventional way or with electrical muscle stimulation) can relieve the pain and unpleasant symptoms of period.
Training with this innovative way of stimulating the muscles can find a response from any healthy adult, whether aiming at weight loss, or universal or partial ribbing (such as the back, abdominal muscles, back, legs, hands).
Is Effective?
All experts in the field confirm its effective ability, as EMS Training trains all the muscles in a short time requiring much less effort.
However, this is not everything offered, as provides another safety & security, as you do not have to apply a variety of complex exercises to activate the most “hidden” muscles of your body.
Scientific data show that this type of muscle stimulation allows muscle strengthening and reconstruction, without straining the joints, ligaments and vertebrae (as is the case with weight training).
Besides, according to experts, offers 5 times more muscle contractions than any form of aerobic exercise and clearly faster muscle benefits.
Nevertheless, for avoiding any misunderstandings, this is not a “magic” program.
For achieving permanent results, the EMS Training method requires proper nutrition (as is the case with conventional training).
Following a balanced diet plan, each person can eliminate the excess body fat and increase muscle mass, achieving a good line in its body.
Even cellulite may be gradually eliminated by following regular EMS Training sessions & proper nutrition.
EMS Training also works to support professional athletes, by boosting their physical strength, explosiveness and muscular endurance and improving their athletic performance.
Contribution of EMS Training to Weight Loss
Studies have shown that training with Electrical Muscle Stimulation could help control the body weight, even without the application of special diet or other physical training, increasing fat loss dramatically and promoting lean muscle mass rebuilding.
