Most people buy electrical muscle stimulation machines because the thought of a 15 to 20 minutes daily workout sounds so much better than hitting hours at the gym. So who needs to go to the gym? Well, believe it or not, while electrical muscle stimulation is a safe and easy way to gain, strengthen and boost your muscles, it does require a lot more than that.
Even though most people know how electrical muscle stimulation works and what it does to your muscles, there are still many who are unsure why this machine has become so common today.
Let’s get started.
An Insight to Electrical Muscle Stimulation
Electrical muscle stimulation was used primarily in physical therapy to help tighten muscles so that they recover quickly. These devices have also been used therapeutically to stimulate motor nerves to control muscular contraction and relaxation.
Believe it or not, electrical muscle stimulation is exactly what it sounds like: the process of using an electrical current to fuel up your muscles. When electrical signals are sent out to your body by your brain your muscles contract. So what an electrical muscle stimulator does is that it replicates and sends out the same impulses causing your muscles to contract on command.
How Well Does Electrical Muscle Stimulation Work?
An electrical stimulation device was used at a particular body part during physical therapy, but this is not the case when we talk about electrical muscle workouts. During EMS workouts, electrical stimulation needs to be delivered to much larger body areas via shorts, shirts, or a vest. As you start to exercise, you begin to engage your muscles. Then, with the help of an electrical muscle stimulator, your muscles are forced to contract even faster, resulting in a workout of about 15to 20 minutes.
If you are at the gym, you will most likely wear the electrical muscle stimulation device before starting your workout to pump up your muscles. It might sound simple, but it is not as now you will feel exhausted even faster than before, but it all depends upon the weight you choose to carry and the amount of time you spend working out. If you start to learn new movements and take upon you a heavy load, then your muscles are more likely to be sore much easier and faster than before.
Electrical Muscle Stimulation 101
When exercising on normal days, the neurotransmitters in your brain tell your muscles to activate and engage to perform each movement, but this is not the case if you’ve gotten an injury or if you have been engaging yourself in overtraining or haven’t recovered properly from an injury. Due to such instances, muscular imbalances occur that end up limiting your muscle fiber activation during moves.
This is where EMS comes in; it allows you to activate and call upon more muscle fibers and ensures to increase muscle engagement resulting in strength and muscle gains as long as you don’t go overboard with your training.
If you wish to see noticeable results with electrical muscle stimulation, then its best to follow these steps:
- Never skip the warm-up
It’s not smart to get right into the training with such a powerful electrical machine. Instead, it’s better to start by doing a gentle warm-up so that your muscles can get ready for powerful stimulations.
- Start by focusing on one muscle set
Since these devices were used in therapy to aim at one body part, it’s best to keep the training as such, so don’t try to hit your back, chest, or biceps all at once. Instead, you need to take it one day at a time.
- Wear the device properly
Be very vigilant when putting on your EMS device because a failure to do so the right way can end up wasting your time along with hindering any potential benefits. So be sure to follow the instruction the right way.
- Keep your muscles relaxed at all times
If the muscles you want to work out are stressed or not in a comfortable position, then your training will not be as successful as you want it to be. So make sure to release any tension you have prior and then move forward.
How to Pick a Good EMS Machine
There are numerous factors that you need to take into consideration when purchasing an electrical muscle stimulation machine, like its price, features, size, and weight. After that, each person will choose a machine with functions and benefits best suited to their needs.
The Fitness4Life Muscle Tone 24 is a great option to consider as it comes with a ten preprogrammed workout mode which can intensify up to 40 levels. In addition, it works best for both men and women.
It can be worn underneath your home or gym clothes and is ideal for a workout while doing home chores. In addition, it is very useful when you plan to go on a business trip or extensive travel.
The Bottom line on Electrical Muscle Stimulation
Electrical muscle stimulation sounds very exciting, and people have most certainly seen some results. Still, you need to keep in mind that electrical muscle stimulation devices won’t work unless you do. Relying only on these devices will not help you acquire hundred percent results. It will, however, to a great deal improve your performance at training or speed up your recovery process. Nonetheless, it will not give you the perfect body overnight. It will surely increase your strength if combined with regular training, but it will not help you reduce or gain muscles.