Post created by Sharon
I have seen commercials lately for Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) machines, and I can’t help but wonder how they work, and if they provide the user with real results. In commercials I have seen, the muscle stimulators are shown on people who are already muscular. Even famous soccer player, Christiano Ronaldo, advocates for one brand. They advertise the machines as quick and easy ways to build muscle, and the reason for their chiseled abs. However, EMS machines can also be used to relieve pain and help arthritis. Some popular EMS brands are PlayMakar PRO, iReliev, and Compex.
EMS machines work by siting above the muscle you are trying to tone and simulating the electrical signals our central nervous systems naturally send out to tell muscles to contract. Because the electrical stimulus does not have to travel very far to the muscle to stimulate contraction, contractions can happen faster and closer together than they could during a regular workout.
The question remains whether or not they provide worthwhile results for the user. A study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning called them a “promising alternative to traditional strength training” (Filipovic et al., 2012). Other sources say the devices do help with reducing body fat, and pain management. However, their claim to build muscle easily is a bit misleading. You still have to eat healthy and be active in addition to using the electrical muscle stimulators to achieve the results they promise. Be warned, the FDA has not approved any of these products as weight reducers or muscle shapers. A good old-fashioned workout is still your best bet for successfully losing weight and chiseling your abs.