Thousands of times we have seen and heard about the supposed benefits of electrostimulators and how they help us to highlight our muscles with hardly any physical effort. At least that is the best known function of these devices, but there are also others such as their use in physiotherapy. We are going to review all its uses, explain some of its benefits, the maximum time that we can use them and if they really work.
We have seen these gadgets in various stores, so much so that we can even buy them on the Lidl website and it is something that has been with us for many years with the aim of help us to mark abs and biceps with hardly any effort, but let's not confuse, there are "two types" (actually there are 2 modes of use) of electrostimulators those used to exercise muscles and those used for physiotherapy and injuries.
What are electrostimulators and what are they for?
They are devices with adhesive plates that are placed in certain specific areas of the muscles and launch electrical discharges similar to those sent by our nervous system. Depending on the specialization, the type of discharge, the therapeutic work or the desired results, you can go from a simple device with adhesive plates to a suit with electrodes that sometimes covers from the neck to the feet.
That suit is usually connected to a machine with different training programs and that each of these training plans manages to reach the most hidden muscle fibers and that are not usually exercised through regular training. That is why this technique with electrostimulators is used so much in professional sports training.
The electrical stimulator is a technique that comes from ancient Egypt and became popular in the 60s to heal injuries and promise immediate results without leaving the couch.
Where are they used?
Regarding electrical stimulators, there are two modes of use, one for professional training and the other for recovery from injuries in physiotherapy centers.
There are various models, there are some very professional ones like the suit that we have mentioned before, and other simpler ones that even run on batteries. The problem with this is that they have become so popular that everyone wants to use it, and it shouldn't be.
The electrical stimulator is used in specific areas of the musculature to reinforce and stimulate the muscle on rest days from training; also for improve physical condition; through electrotherapy a faster and more effective recovery is achieved after a great effort; there are programs that promote relaxation and possible injuries due to overexertion decrease; to relax injured joints; to reduce muscular contractures, etc.
The most common areas where these accessories are used are the lower back, the gluteus maximus, the knees, the biceps and the abdominals. These devices are also used for other areas such as feet, elbows, pectorals, quadriceps, twins, etc.
Can anyone use them?
The answer is "not everyone should use them", but let's explain it a little better.
Although the uses that we have explained in the previous sections are the official ones, electrostimulators are sold anywhere and are available to anyone, which means that anyone can plug in the device and give themselves electric currents to their arm, back, knee, etc. buttocks etc. without having enough knowledge.
What does this mean? Well, those people who use electrical stimulators and who connect the electrodes to any area of the affected muscle or who want to stimulate it, are more likely to suffer pain, possible contractures and injuries to joints and muscles.
This is because those people with low physical shape and suddenly subject the muscle to high intensity training using electrical stimulators, can suffer various damages.
In addition, electrostimulation is discouraged for all these user profiles:
- Epilepsy.
- Pacemaker.
- Circulation problems.
- abdominal hernias.
- Skin irritations such as wounds and burns.
- Diabetes.
- Women with a cesarean section scar.
- Neurological disorders.
- Hypertension.
- Obesity.
- metabolic alterations.
- Inflammatory pathologies such as arthritis.
- High uric acid.
Recommended time to see results
The time stimulated per session and per area to work must be indicated by a professional, but broadly speaking the sessions must be between 5 minutes and 120 minutes, and do between 2 and 6 sessions a week in each area, muscle or lesion. (you have to avoid doing it every day). We can't use it for more than 1 hour in the same muscle, but the most appropriate thing is to alternate it between different muscles.
The exact time and the visible results will depend on the objective that each one of us has set, the type of body, muscle, injury, if there is enough muscle nasa or not, etc.
What we should avoid is starting with very long sessions. Let's keep in mind that it is an accompaniment to the usual training or a relaxation session or to heal an injury, if we overload the area, it is counterproductive in every way for our body.
Do sessions with an electrical stimulator work?
Some of the benefits are muscle activation, resistance is gained, muscles suffer less, there is better blood flow, toxins are eliminated and it also serves to relax the muscles, reduce training stress and improve recovery after injury.
So yes, this therapy does work, but as long as it is done by professionals in authorized medical centers. What we must avoid is letting all the responsibility of our physical appearance fall to these devices, since to see real results we must have to exercise and have a minimum physical condition.
Electrostimulation does not help to lose weight, as we have already said throughout this text, to use this practice we must have a minimum of physical condition and resistance, as well as take this therapy as part of a regular training. We should never do only electrostimulation, because we can damage the muscles and not get results, having wasted time and money.
We must be aware that not all of us can use stimulation, which is why we have listed the most serious cases before so that we know that if we enter into some of these groups, we must avoid these devices.