EMS training (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) is the effect on the muscles of a device or simulator that sends weak electrical signals through electrodes attached to the surface of the skin. In fact, the apparatus for electrical muscle stimulation generates impulses similar to real muscle contractions during strength exercises.

Advertisements for equipment and reviews of training studios EMS promises to create strong muscles and fit athletic body in just 20 minutes of training three times a week, and homemade EMS ab belts “guarante” sculpted cubes without exhausting twists. It is enough just to put on this electric belt while watching TV, while there is no need for exercises.

Unfortunately, the evidence base for EMS training is highly controversial. Even if the myostimulation method can increase muscle tone, in most cases training advertising significantly overestimates the pros (especially for losing weight and fighting cellulite) - and never talks about the cons, possible harm and contraindications. In turn, home EMS ab simulators are more like just a toy.

Who invented EMS?

The history of muscle stimulators dates back to the 18th century, when researchers discovered that a weak electric current could provoke contractions of a certain muscle in the human body. In the 1960s, Soviet scientists announced that they had developed an innovative training mechanic for professional athletes that increased their muscle strength by a significant 40% (1) .

Later it turned out that it was more about a special restorative and rehabilitation therapy, and not at all about a technique for increasing strength and muscle mass in healthy athletes. Then, in the 1970s, in Germany they began to use the technique of electrical muscle stimulation in physiotherapy and accelerated recovery of athletes. The first EMS training studios also appeared in Germany - Bodytec and Miha.

EMS trainer - customer reviews

In terms of feedback on the actual operation of such equipment and the sensations during EMS training, most people note noticeable indications. Impulse currents seem to compress the body from all sides, forcing the muscles to contract. It is quite difficult to resist them, so even simple physical exercises become a test. During exercise, the pulse quickens, breathing may go astray.

Note that the cost of a professional EMS simulator can be hundreds of thousands of rubles - this pushes sellers to the methods of "black" Internet marketing, which consists in publishing fake reviews. In no other material by Fitseven we see such a high activity of "joyful buyers", telling in detail how satisfied they are with pumped up muscles and a thinner body.

How EMS training works

As a rule, one full workout at the EMS studio lasts about 20-30 minutes. A person puts on a special suit with electrodes, and the trainer regulates the power of the electrical impulses for each part of the body, based on the sensations and endurance of the trainee. Then the simplest physical exercises are performed for various parts of the body - squats, flexion and extension of the arms, swings to the sides, and so on.

The final stage of the training is lymphatic drainage massage, during which you only need to lie down and enjoy the pleasant tingling sensations.

Trainings are held 2-3 times a week.

Real reviews about EMS

As a physiotherapist, he repeatedly encountered complications from impulse currents in ladies of all ages and young girls - there was a life-threatening bleeding from the uterus (rupture of the corpus luteum). It has now been convincingly proved that, even in the absence of contraindications, ladies and girls should not carry out such procedures.

After 4 workouts, fluid formed over the patella, by the evening the knee was all swollen. I went to the emergency room and the doctor said that because of the heavy load on the body, in general, he forbade such training, everyone's body is different and it is not known how he will react to such training.

First, electrical stimulation on a permanent basis adversely affects the heart; secondly, external stimulation is not a neural impulse, the muscle works without communication with the brain, where is the development of movement stereotypes?; thirdly, these studios hire anyone for the positions of trainers (look at the ads at least on the headhunter); fourthly, this trend is for the lazy and who allegedly do not have time for full-fledged training and the desire to break with their own body.

EMS training- pros and cons

The first commercial EMS personal training machines appeared in the United States in the late 1990s. Manufacturers tried to give their products and the method of myostimulation for the press as much credibility as possible, organizing all kinds of scientific congresses and developing intricate methods for certifying the equipment they produced themselves - but without real scientific support.

In one such certification attempt, the wording "weight loss and weight loss device" was used - but it was vehemently rejected by regulators as misleading. As a result, EMS was certified as a treatment for muscle atrophy and spasm in bedridden patients, but not as a technique for muscle growth or body contouring (2) .

EMS abs belt - does it work?

A separate area of ​​EMS technology is home exercise equipment and belts for creating relief press. Intrusive advertising and numerous reviews of "joyful buyers" promise fat burning, instant drawing of cubes, getting rid of cellulite and other positive effects. It is enough just to buy this belt and watch TV in it - and the stomach will go away on its own.

Unfortunately, most households EMS belts for the press are just a low-quality toy from an unnamed manufacturer. Even with careful use, they fail literally in the second week. We also note that such a belt must be “glued” to the skin using replaceable gel pads or even paper tape - which means that the stomach will have to be shaved.

EMS: contraindications and harm

We also note that the EMS training method has a serious list of contraindications - from pregnancy to the presence of a number of chronic diseases- including any circulatory disorders, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, kidney failure, oncological diseases, and so on. Among other things, there are risks in the presence of a common cold.

A separate group of contraindications for electrical stimulation includes people who have pacemakers and other devices for correcting the heart rhythm, as well as people who have suffered bone fractures, sprains or any damage to the skin in the recent past. However, when selling a subscription to an EMS training studio, they often “forget” to warn about this.

final opinion

Although EMS training may be effective for bedridden and paralyzed patients, it is not able to affect either muscle growth, weight loss and noticeable fat burning, getting rid of stretch marks, cellulite, or any other improvement in body contours. In addition, the EMS method has a significant list of contraindications and is not recommended even for a serious cold.

Manufacturers of EMS trainers have been repeatedly fined for false advertising and misleading claims that the muscle stimulation technique can replace power training and create "an iron press completely effortless and without a drop of shed sweat" (3) . At the same time, most of the rave reviews on the Internet are most likely fake, written by order of manufacturers.

***

EMS training increases muscle tone exclusively in untrained people and in paralyzed patients, while not affecting either fat burning or getting rid of cellulite. It is also important that manufacturers of such equipment have repeatedly been fined for misleading advertising that EMS simulators able to "create muscle without effort".

Scientific sources:

1. Russian electrical stimulation: the early experiments,
2. FDA: Import Alert 89-01,
3. FTC Charges Three Top-selling Electronic Abdominal Exercise Belts with Making False Claims,

Description of the method
Electrical muscle stimulation is an internationally recognized clinical method of physiotherapy in such specialties as orthopedic and neurological rehabilitation. Applied to a central or peripheral partially damaged nerve, electrical stimulation can induce a muscle response in patients with limited or lost muscle activity. This method is an adjunct to physiotherapy and should be combined with active training, strength and coordination exercises. The method is simple and suitable for treatment, both in the hospital and outpatient at home.

Operating principle
NMES stimulates motor nerves to generate muscle contractions, unlike low frequency TENS, which creates small muscle twitches. NMES also stimulates A-beta nerve fibers (as does TENS), which has an analgesic effect.

Reading examples

• restoration of quadriceps function after surgery
• maintaining or increasing the range of active movements
• capillarization
• reduction of atrophy / hypotrophy of muscles
• maintaining muscle strength during immobilization
• prevention of loss of muscle strength after surgery, for example on the vastus medialis
• reduction of spasticity, such as reciprocal inhibition of the flexor muscles of the arms in patients with hemiplegia
• training after partial peripheral nerve injury with reinnervation symptoms such as plexus injury
• peroneal muscle stimulation
• incontinence treatment
• anesthesia
• warm-up
• increase in muscle strength
• recovery

NMES treatment

Installation of electrodes
For achievement good results essential correct installation electrodes. The muscle contracts by stimulating the motor nerve. The motor point is the area on the skin that is closest to the point where the motor nerve enters the muscle. This is the most advantageous place for the induction of contraction using electrical impulses. Cefar's NMES programs generate a symmetrical biphasic waveform, meaning the polarity is constantly changing. This means that both electrodes are equally active.

There are different methods for positioning the electrodes. The most optimal is the installation of a pair of electrodes above the towering place of this muscle. By placing one electrode over the motor point of the muscle, you will get the strongest possible muscle contraction in the absence of discomfort. When placing electrodes over motor points different muscles can effectively work with large muscle groups.

What size electrodes to choose?
A large muscle group requires a larger electrode area. For a small muscle group, small electrodes are better suited, as they are more specific, which provides a greater current density (mA/cm2). Large muscle groups may also require dual channel stimulation, in which four electrodes are used simultaneously.

What frequency and pulse duration should be selected?

NMES usually operates at frequencies of 20-120 Hz. To increase blood circulation, choose frequencies up to 10 Hz. The goal is to induce vibrations, not contractions. Adjust the duration of the pulse in relation to the amount of energy in each pulse. When stimulating a small muscle group, a short pulse (say 200 µs) is usually sufficient, while a long pulse (eg 400 µs) is used for a large muscle group.

NMES 20-70 Hz

1.lift
2.Period of stimulation
3.Recession
4.Pause

The illustration above shows electrical stimulation of a muscle. It begins with a lifting phase (1), during which the contraction gradually increases, reaching a maximum contraction in the stimulation phase (2). During the decay phase (3), the stimulation gradually decreases and passes into the rest phase, in which the stimulation stops or is at a moderate level (active rest). Leisure prevents muscle injury, and prepares the muscle for the next contraction. Stimulation with regular pauses is called intermittent.

What sensations should the stimulation evoke?
The goal of NMES is to induce muscle contractions. Increase the amplitude above the somatosensory barrier until you see a motor response. The patient often experiences an electrical contraction stronger than a voluntary contraction. But cuts should not cause discomfort.

Testing the placement position of the electrodes.
The motor point electrode and gel help determine the optimal location for electrode application. Sliding over the surface of the skin with a movable electrode, you find the position with the maximum and most comfortable muscle contraction. Often the patient needs to get used to the stimulation, and therapeutic intensity may not be achieved in the first sessions. During the course of treatment, the intensity of stimulation should gradually increase. In the first session, a short session can be held to determine the patient's response. Excessively strong muscle contractions caused by electrical stimulation can injure a muscle that is not prepared for the load. A gradual increase in load and regularity of classes provide a good result of treatment.

NMES can be combined with other types to achieve good results. muscle training. Muscle stimulation can act both in the phase of concentric and eccentric movement, or only in one of them. It depends on how you combine stimulation with voluntary movements.

What should be the duration of the course of treatment?
Depending on the condition of the muscles and the rehabilitation phase of the patient, the treatment can last from 5 to 60 minutes and be repeated from three times a week to two times a day. In order to intensify the treatment, you can gradually increase the duration of stimulation depending on the pause. You can also increase the amplitude, frequency and/or duration of the pulse.

denervated muscles.
Stimulation of denervated muscles differs from stimulation of muscles with preserved innervation.
If the innervation of the muscle is preserved, you can stimulate through the motor nerve, if the muscle is denervated, you must stimulate directly. muscle fibers for contraction induction. The goal of stimulating denervated muscles is to maintain their contractile units while waiting for possible reinnervation. To generate a contraction, the pulse duration is 100-300 ms. Rectangular pulses are used for fully denervated muscles, while triangular or trapezoid pulses are used for partially denervated muscles. This helps to separate the innervated and denervated fibers.

Switch.
You can use the switch during electrical stimulation to adjust the duration of the pause and stimulation periods. The switch is especially useful when electrical muscle contractions are combined with voluntary contractions. The result is an effective individual treatment.

Installation of electrodes.
Here are some examples of electrode placement for the most common indications. For NMES, there is no difference in the position of the red and black electrodes.

Shoulder - subluxation and impaired abduction

Indication:

1. Functional subluxation of the shoulder after stroke.

2. Decreased function of the shoulder muscles after a fracture, dislocation, etc.

Installation of electrodes: Place one electrode on the middle of the deltoid muscle and the other on the supraspinatus muscle. The position of the electrodes and the type of stimulation may differ depending on the type of subluxation.

shoulder area- dysfunction of the triceps

Indication:

1. Decrease in triceps function, for example, after stroke.

2. Fracture in the elbow joint.

Installation of electrodes: Place one pair of electrodes on the triceps.
Torso, lower back - training of the muscles that extensor the spine

Indication: Pain/Weakness in lumbar region

Placement of electrodes: Place two pairs of electrodes in the lumbar region paravertebral along the course of the muscles that straighten the spine on both sides.
Trunk - abdominal muscle training

Indication: decreased function of the rectus abdominis muscles.

Placement of the electrodes: Place two pairs of electrodes on the rectus abdominis muscles on both sides.
Forearm - violation of the strength / hypotrophy of the extensors of the hand

Indication:

1. Violation of wrist extension and/or spasticity of the flexors after a stroke, etc.

2. Decreased function of the wrist extensors after a fracture, etc.

Installation of electrodes: Place a pair of electrodes over the extensor muscles of the hand.
Knee joint - instability

Indications:
1. Postoperative period after plastic surgery of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee joint.
2. Extension contracture of the knee joint.

Electrode Placement: Place one pair of electrodes over the quadriceps.
Knee joint - muscle imbalance

Indication: Muscular imbalance of the medial head relative to the lateral head of the quadriceps.

Installation of electrodes: Place one pair of electrodes over the medial head.
Thigh area - Positive Trendelenburg's sign

Indication: 1. Positive Trendelenburg sign. 2. Decreased function of the hip abductors after central disorders such as stroke.

Installation of electrodes: Place one pair of electrodes over the hip abductor muscle and over the flexor muscle.
Calf area - dysfunction of the Achilles tendon

Indication: Dysfunction of the Achilles tendon.

Electrode Placement: Place one pair of electrodes over the gastrocnemius muscle.
Calf area - reduced foot flexor strength

Indication: Decreased dorsal flexion, spasticity.

Placement of electrodes: 1. One electrode above the exit of the peroneal nerve immediately below the head of the fibula, and the other on the anterior surface of the tibia. 2. Both electrodes on the anterior surface of the tibia.
Contraindications

1. Patients with a pacemaker, intracardiac defibrillator, or other active implants should not be treated with NMES.
2.Carefully exercise in the first trimester of pregnancy.
3. In a pregnant woman, never connect a pair of electrodes across the abdomen.
4. Do not stimulate near the carotid glomus, in the projection of the throat next to the carotid artery, as this is dangerous due to pressure drop.
5. Do not stimulate during acute inflammation and acute blood loss.
6. Be extremely careful when stimulating patients with a disease of the lymphatic system.
7. If there are contraindications to the load on the tendon or muscle.

Go to CATALOG

Muscle electrical stimulation - a description of the procedure and an overview of the most popular devices: Stimulus 1, MIORHYTM-040-M2, Miovolna

Electrical muscle stimulation was invented in the middle of the 19th century in France. It is usually used in physiotherapy and rehabilitation therapy to restore the functioning of tissues, organs and systems, including the nervous one.

This method has an effect due to the impulse current, due to which there is a directed excitation and contraction of any area of ​​the muscles, and a decrease in the trophic function of nerve fibers.

The effect of current on the muscle tissues of the body

Electrical stimulation actively affects the body due to pulses of different duration - from 0.5 to 300 ms, with a current strength of up to 5 mA (on the face), up to 100 mA (on the body) and a frequency of 10-150 Hz, which act intermittently.

During the procedure, the person does not move, but this effect is identical to the normal work of the muscles during their activity.

The current, passing through the tissues, excites the cells and stimulates the active work of the muscles, and during the pauses it relaxes.

Thanks to this rhythm of work, there is no irritating effect of the current under the electrodes and the epidermis is not damaged due to prolonged electrical stimulation.

When an electric current acts on muscles or nerves, their bioactivity and the formation of spike responses change. The impulses provoke muscle contraction, which strengthens and activates them.

It is also good that if the muscle is overstressed, electrical stimulation relieves such tension well. This method has no analogues in the world, it forces the muscle to work 100%.

Electrical stimulation of the back muscles helps patients who have an immobile cervical, lumbar, a sick or curved spine, pain is inherent, sensitivity is lost, muscles are weakened, and more.

And also such a procedure is necessary at the stage of rehabilitation after spinal surgery, it will help strengthen muscle corset at the spine.

If you choose the right one, electrical stimulation of the leg muscles will help restore the work of many functions:

• biceps femoris - restores flexion of the knee joint;
• electrical stimulation calf muscle, helps to restore the function of flexion of the foot;
• peronal muscle - dorsiflexion and abduction of the foot;
• impulse currents directed to the rectus femoris improve segment mobility as well as knee extension.

Thanks to myostimulation, it is possible to reach muscles located very deep, which are difficult to load under normal circumstances.

For example, electrical stimulation of the thigh muscles helps to actively fight osteoarthritis, including helping to recover from joint replacement surgery.

The current is also used for cosmetic purposes, for facelift. The face and neck areas are quite difficult to train. regular exercises, but electrical stimulation of the muscles of the face helps to strengthen them and increase microcirculation in them.

The procedure improves blood supply and the complex of metabolic and trophic processes. Including activated systems and cells of the cerebral cortex.

Muscles are stimulated, nucleic acids are synthesized, including RNA, which delays the process of atrophy and sclerotic development in them.

During the procedure, the effect occurs directly on the muscle and through its motor nerve. Electrical stimulation accelerates the utilization of oxygen and reduces the energy expenditure for contraction. After physical exertion, lactic acid accumulates, and the influence of the current removes it from the muscles, relieving pain.

Electrostimulation of the muscles of the hands

Electrical stimulation of the muscles of the hands restores the following functions:

1. Influence at deltoid muscle, helps to resume the work of abduction of the shoulder to the side, back and forth;
2. extensors of the hand and fingers, restore their extension function;
3. electrodes located on the triceps muscle affect the extension of the arm in the elbow joint;
4. impact on the biceps muscle, will help to bend the arm at the elbow joint;
5. points on the flexors of the hand and fingers, will help them bend.

How is the procedure

• Before electrical stimulation, the body is examined and spastic muscles are found, the degree of increase in muscle tone is established, and the presence of fibrotic changes is recognized;
• If the procedure is intended for the face, then you need to remove makeup and degrease the skin;
• The specialist can then apply a mask or conductive gel to the skin as well as to the electrodes. It depends on the device that supplies the current, as well as on the conductivity of the current by the body;
• Electrodes are applied to those areas where motor points are located - hips, limbs, abdomen, chest, back, face. Stationary electrodes are fixed or the skin is treated with movable electrodes;
• It is better to carry out such a procedure in a medical center, where a specialist can install electrodes exactly in the places where they need to be. And also he will be able to choose the current strength that corresponds to the degree of muscle damage and fits the individual sensitivity of the patient;
• Having chosen the necessary current strength, frequency and duration, a session of electrical stimulation is performed;
• Remove the electrodes, cleanse the skin of the gel.

Session duration

The duration of the procedure is determined by the doctor, depending on the symptoms, the nature of the process and others, usually it does not exceed 40 minutes.

The duration of treatment is usually from 15 to 30 sessions, they are carried out every day or every other day.

The duration of the facial treatment can last from 10 to 20 sessions. They do the procedure every couple of days, and the courses are held about once a year.

The muscle or nerve is stimulated for 2-3 minutes, and then a break of 10 minutes is taken. The timing of achieving the desired result depends on the disease, the characteristics of the body, the condition, on the presence of extra pounds.

Electrical stimulation at home

Today, you can hear about portable devices everywhere. Some can be powered by electricity, while others can be battery powered.

You can use such devices to maintain tone. Their power is low and they cannot have a full impact.

Electrical stimulation at home will help relieve fatigue after a hard day, tighten some parts of the body, relieve or reduce pain. But such a device will not help overcome diseases or correct the condition of the muscles.

You can also be treated with this drug at home, after being prescribed and trained by a doctor.

Apparatus for electrical stimulation

All devices have electrodes that are attached to the body. The device has a main unit in which a current of a certain strength and frequency is generated. Each muscle group has its own mode of operation.

Devices are classified into professional, which are used in clinics, beauty parlors, and low-power, for home use.

For muscle recovery, sinusoidal currents of increased frequencies are used, which are modulated by low frequencies. These include devices such as "Amplipulse-4, 5", which has a wide range of treatment and type "Stimulus-1", designed to stimulate such muscles.

If the electrical excitability of the muscles is reduced due to degeneration or disease of the motor nerve, stimulation is carried out with the same currents, only they come in a rectified mode. Here the electrodes on the motor point are connected to the negative pole. Such currents are given by the UEI-1 and Neuropulse devices.

Other devices for muscle electrical stimulation: Movolna, Diagnostim, NET, MIORHYTM-040-M2, TUR-RS, Stersodnator, Tonus-1 and others.

Stimulus 1

This device is intended for the complex treatment of injuries and diseases of the musculoskeletal system, various paralysis, cuts, in violation of posture, scoliosis, flat feet, to strengthen muscles, eliminate fat layers, with increased physical exertion.

Such a device is used in clinics and various medical institutions.

The device "Stimulus-1" generates radio pulses in a continuous mode of parcels. The amplitude of the parcels is regulated and its period of rise and fall is corrected.

The mechanism of action lies in transistors and microcircuits. The kit includes electrodes of various shapes made of hardened carbon fabric, electric holders and other devices. Operate the device at an air temperature of +10 to +35ºС and at an ambient humidity of up to 80%, at a temperature of +20ºС.

Characteristics of the device Stimulus-1

Frequency of sinusoidal oscillations	2000Hz±10%
The maximum indicator of the average current value with active load resistance	1000 ohm - 30 mA
The frequency of repetition of radio pulses is equal to the frequency of the supply network;	10ms±20%
The duration of the parcels of radio pulses
Radio pulses are generated in continuous mode and burst mode
Working mode	up to 3 min
Continuous operation of the device	up to 6 hours a day
Less power consumption	40 W
Mains consumption	220V±10%
Current frequency	50±0.5Hz
Degree of protection against electric shock	II class
Dimensions	108x300x315 mm
Machine weight without accessories	4 kg

miowave

Muscles are stimulated with this device to fill the deficit of nerve impulses, increase blood supply to tissues and organs, suppress pain pulsations and improve the functioning of the lymphatic system.

During electrical stimulation, impulses from nerve endings are transmitted to the muscles and cause them to contract. Improves blood flow and lymph flow, stimulates metabolism. Including the device is used to tighten the muscles of the face.

"Miovolna" provides a mode of moving the zone of electrical stimulation, during stable parameters, stimulating impulses.

Due to this, successive stimulation of different parts of tissues along the path of innervation - the direction of blood flow and lymph circulation - is carried out.

MIORHYTM-040-M2

This drug is used in medical, cosmetic and sports area. "MIORITM-040-M2" has an electrical stimulator with a separate power supply and a set of accessories.

One of the most effective and popular methods of physiotherapy is electrical muscle stimulation. The course of such procedures allows you to quickly restore damaged nerve endings, tissues and muscles. What is the peculiarity of this technique? Who can use an electrostimulator, and who should refuse such a procedure? You will find answers to all these questions in this article. For the treatment of certain pathologies, doctors prescribe a course of electrical stimulation. This procedure is carried out using special equipment that directs pulsed currents directly to tissues, organs and systems.
Muscle electrical stimulation, as a rule, is part of the complex therapy of diseases nervous system, which limit the patient's motor activity, lead to the depletion of muscle tissue and loss of strength. The electrical stimulator sends an impulse to the diseased organ, due to which there is an immediate muscle contraction and motor excitation appears. At the same time, some brain cells also begin to work more actively. This method of treatment prevents atrophy and sclerotic changes in muscle tissue, enhances blood and lymph circulation, and improves the permeability of blood vessel walls.

Indications

Home electrostimulator

Most often, the electrostimulator is used to treat diseases of the nervous system. The procedure will be useful to all patients who have a significant decrease in the speed of nerve impulse conduction. Also, such therapy is indispensable for patients with paresis, paralysis, traumatic damage to nerve endings.
The main indications for conducting a course of electrical muscle stimulation can be considered:

• Multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, polyneuropathy and other ailments accompanied by spastic paralysis.
• Decreased sensation in the extremities after a serious injury.
• Pathologies of cerebral circulation, leading to central paralysis.
• Long-term treatment of complex fractures, in which the patient's motor activity is limited. As a rule, with such an injury, the patient's muscles are depleted. To prevent this from happening, doctors recommend using an electrical stimulator.

Electrical muscle stimulation will only be effective if it is combined with other therapies.

Advantages

The procedure for electrical muscle stimulation is not without reason so popular. This technique has many advantages, namely:

• Effectively restores muscle performance.
• Not only treats the disease, but also has an analgesic effect.
• You can use the pacemaker without special training and medical education. Modern manufacturers of medical equipment offer a wide range of compact, inexpensive devices that can be used for home therapy.

Despite the fact that the electrostimulator can be used at home, before the course of such procedures, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

Flaws

Each patient should be aware that, in addition to the advantages, electrical muscle stimulation also has obvious disadvantages. The disadvantages of the technique include:

• If the damage to the nervous system is very strong, such therapy will be ineffective and will not give the desired result.
• Physiotherapy with the use of an electrical stimulator allows you to get rid of only the consequences of the disease, but not the cause of the development of unpleasant symptoms.

Some people use special equipment that sends electrical pulses for muscle training and against cellulite. However, professionals say that it will be quite difficult to achieve the desired goal in this way. If you want to lose weight or build beautiful muscles, it's better to sign up for a gym and start eating right. Classes, of course, will require a lot of effort from you, but the figure will become slim.

Contraindications

The electrical stimulation technique also has some contraindications. It is not recommended to perform such procedures when:

• Rheumatism;
• Frequent heavy bleeding;
• atrial fibrillation;
• Pathologies of the heart and blood vessels;
• Inflammatory and infectious diseases;
• Oncology.

If you have recently undergone surgery on tendons or muscles, you can do electrical stimulation only after 1 month. The use of electrical impulses can provoke an increase in the tone of the uterus, so pregnant women should also avoid such a procedure.

Back

Back diseases such as osteochondrosis can cause a lot of pain and discomfort to the patient. Medicines help reduce pain, but do not eliminate the main cause of the development of pathology. To quickly and effectively get rid of back pain, doctors recommend taking a full course of special interstitial electrical stimulation. This technique was developed by the famous scientist A. Gerasimov.
A needle with an electrode is inserted into the affected area of ​​the body under the skin. Electrical impulses are sent directly to the muscle tissue. This leads to the normalization of blood circulation and the expansion of small vessels. Such treatment stops the process of destruction of cartilage tissue, removes salt from the body, improves the functioning of nerve endings.
The benefits of back treatment using the Gerasimov method include:

• Quick relief from pain and other unpleasant symptoms.
• The procedure is completely painless.
• You do not need to take additional medications that can cause allergic reactions and harm the body.
• Fast recovery.

Intramuscular electrical stimulation also has contraindications. It is not recommended to perform such a procedure if you have any inflammatory disease, pathology of cardio-vascular system, oncology or pulmonary tuberculosis. In addition, the use of an electrical pacemaker is prohibited during pregnancy and for people with an artificial pacemaker. In any case, before the procedure, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

Eyes

In modern ophthalmology, the method of electrical stimulation is also used to treat visual impairment in adults and children. Doctors recommend the use of such physiotherapy for:

• nearsightedness or farsightedness;
• Asthenopia;
• Strabismus;
• Atrophy of the optic nerve.

A beam of light is directed to the retina of the eye, and the eye instantly reacts to it. If vision is impaired, information from the outside world may enter the brain distorted. The electrical stimulator has a direct effect on the neuromuscular system of the eye, the muscles contract, and the conduction of the nerves normalizes. The procedure is simple and painless, carried out in almost every clinic. The only contraindication to the use of an electrostimulator for the treatment of eye diseases is the presence of an inflammatory disease or hemorrhage.

Brain

Some neuropsychiatric diseases of the brain can be effectively treated with a course of electrical stimulation. A special device sends nerve impulses that activate the basic functions of the brain. The main advantages of such procedures are the absence of the need for additional medication and the exclusion of the possibility of side effects.
The main indications for conducting a course of electrical stimulation of the brain can be considered:

• head trauma;
• Pathology of the central nervous system;
• neuroses;
• Hearing and vision disorders;
• Consequences of improper blood circulation of the brain.

Before proceeding with the procedure, be sure to consult with your doctor. The thing is that this technique has contraindications. It is not recommended to use an electrostimulator for hypertension, atherosclerosis, high temperature, infectious or colds, oncology.

Electrical stimulation (video)

Electrical muscle stimulation is often used in physiotherapy and rehabilitation activities. The procedure has two goals. First of all, the impact is aimed at eliminating the pain syndrome. Along with this, the restoration of muscle activity is carried out. Let's take a closer look at this procedure. The article will also describe some devices for electrical muscle stimulation.

General information

Muscle electrical stimulation is performed using special equipment. It is equipped with electrodes that are connected by wires. The device for electrical muscle stimulation sends current to the elements. Through the electrodes, the impulses propagate into the muscle tissue. The result is a motor or sensory response.

Electrode placement methods

They are located on the surface of the skin specific muscles. There are two options for placing elements. The first is the location of one electrode in a healthy area, and the second - in the affected area. In the second case, the elements are placed on both sides of problem area. The negative polarity that surrounds the damaged area promotes healing. It stimulates the formation of tissues, thus accelerating the recovery processes.

Indications and contraindications

Electrical stimulation is recommended for the prevention of muscle atrophy, stimulation of the muscles of the thighs, large fibers of the anterior wall of the peritoneum in cellulite. Procedures are applied to reduce overweight and body shaping. Recommended electrical stimulation in case of deterioration of blood circulation (peripheral venous and arterial), decreased tone, lymphatic drainage. The procedure is not prescribed during pregnancy, the presence of an intrauterine pacemaker. Electrical stimulation is contraindicated in case of nervosa, after surgery.

Removal of soreness

There are two opinions about how electrical muscle stimulation relieves pain. In accordance with the "gate theory" - the first hypothesis, signals from the affected area are sent to the brain through the nerves. However, most of the impulses go through the "gate". Signals during electrical stimulation also pass through them. As a result, the nerves that transmit the pain impulse are blocked. According to another theory, electrical muscle stimulation causes the brain to produce natural painkillers - enkephalins and endorphins. It has been established that after low-frequency exposure, the content of these compounds increases.

Impact on atrophy

The decrease can accompany a variety of pathologies. Electrical muscle stimulation is often used to slow down or prevent this process. The impulses that the electrical muscle stimulation device sends help to maintain the activity of the weakened muscles.

Therapy for osteoarthritis

This pathology is caused by the degradation of articular tissues. Studies have found that electrical stimulation is a very effective technique in the treatment of patients suffering from osteoarthritis in this area of ​​the lower limb, as well as after surgery and joint replacement. Pulse impact can help strengthen the knee extensors, which provides better segment mobility.

Prevention of bedsores

This problem is considered quite common for bedridden patients chained to the bed. During a long stay in this position, there is a strong and constant pressure on certain areas of the body. Electrical stimulation of the buttocks helps prevent deformities and the appearance of bedsores.

Tissue restoration

Muscle electrical stimulation is actively used on fibers that do not contract enough. This kind of effect is indicated for various conditions, but most often it is prescribed to patients who have had a stroke or orthopedic surgery. Often such patients experience serious difficulties when trying to make movements. If the electrodes are placed correctly, the fibers may begin to contract without the patient's intervention during the process of sending an electrical signal from the device to the muscles. During this artificially induced reaction, the patient also tries to contract the muscles. As a result, the procedures contribute to the fact that the brain again "learns" to coordinate muscle activity on its own.

Muscle electrical stimulation: expert reviews

Despite the fact that various activities are periodically carried out to study the effects of current, its effectiveness remains in question. In some studies, the procedure almost completely fails. Often, electrical muscle stimulation appears as an alternative method due to insufficient evidence of its benefit. However, there are experts who point to the effectiveness of the procedures. Thus, in the course of one of the studies conducted in 2014, which involved patients with severe and moderate muscle pain, it was found that exposure to current contributed to a significant decrease in the intensity of sensations. It should be noted that the study of the effectiveness of the procedures is still ongoing.

Electrical muscle stimulation for children

In pediatrics, electric shock is often used. Such a procedure as electrical muscle stimulation is not contraindicated for children, but it has its own characteristics. First of all, you should be careful not to exceed the duration of exposure. Electrical stimulation of the leg muscles for children is prescribed with a reduced tone. Due to the impulse action, blood circulation is stimulated, the activity of the muscles is restored. Electrical stimulation of the leg muscles for children is recommended for flat feet.

Benefits of exposure

Electrical muscle stimulation, reviews of many patients confirm this, is very effective in many cases. The undoubted advantage of the procedure is the removal of pain. According to patients, relief comes quickly enough and lasts a long period. Exposure to current does not provoke addiction. Electrical stimulation can be carried out not only in special rooms, but also at home. Many patients have different devices at their disposal. According to them, using the equipment is quite simple: it is compact and does not require special skills. For many, these devices completely replace drug therapy.

Disadvantages of the procedure

The main disadvantage of the procedure is that it does not eliminate the cause of the pathology. The impact only irritates the muscles, causing them to contract. At the same time, muscle function may not be restored with severe neurological damage. Advertisements for electrical stimulation devices claim that some of them help, but there is no clinical evidence for this.

Exposure using professional equipment

Various devices are used for the procedures. One of them is the physiotherapy equipment "ESMA". In the process of exposure, not only the fibers are irritated, but also the nerve innervating them with the help of a pulsed current. As a result, a change in bioelectrical activity is observed, spike responses are formed, and an intensive contraction is carried out. During the procedure, such types of current are used as:

• High frequency.
• Pulse.
• Midrange.
• Constant.
• Low frequency.

Mechanism of influence

Electrostimulation of the muscles is often compared to "gymnastics for the lazy" - the patient does nothing, and his muscles are active. However, experts are in no hurry to draw a direct analogy, since contractions under the influence of current and natural movement are very different. However, one does not replace or cancel the other. During the normal physical activity, regardless of its nature - housework, special exercises, walks and so on - purposeful work is carried out by far not all muscles. Against the background of current exposure, all excited structures are involved. These include smooth and striated fibers. Nerve endings send a signal "up" - to the centers of the brain, and "down" - to organs and systems. At the same time, the walls of large vessels begin to react, reserve capillary channels open. Due to such a massive impact, even the most weakened muscles are prepared for work. However, one should not be limited to the use of external influences. To successfully achieve the goal, you need to force your muscles to act.

Equipment types

Electrodes are applied to certain motor points of the thighs, back, chest, abdomen, lower extremities. Depending on which model of the muscle stimulator is used, a special conductive gel can be applied to the skin. Usually 15-20 procedures are prescribed per course. The frequency of electrical stimulation is 2-3 times a week. The impact allows you to activate the fibers located deep enough, which in normal cases can be difficult to get close. Electrical stimulation of the calf muscles is very effective. As a rule, the impact is directed to a separate muscle group. In this case, electrical stimulation is performed in a certain sequence. Actually, this determines the positive effect of the procedure. As mentioned above, the equipment is equipped with electrodes. They, in turn, are equipped with devices with the help of which they are attached to the body. The device also has a main unit. It generates a current of a certain strength and frequency. Each muscle group has its own mode of exposure. Often, in addition to the equipment, a special gel or cream is supplied that improves the conduction of impulses.

Exposure at home

Quite popular today portable devices. Some of them run on batteries. However, such devices are only able to maintain the state. With a reduced tone, for example, there is not much benefit from them, since their power is not enough for a full impact. For example, electrical stimulation of the calf muscles with a portable device will relieve fatigue after a working day. However, it will not help to correct the condition of the muscles. Among the most common devices, it should be noted OMRON E4, "Enistim-1", "ESMA 12.20 COMBI" and "ESMA 12.48 FAVORITE".