Electrical Stimulation: The Early Experiments

Electrical Stimulation: The Early Experiments
Alex R Ward and Nataliya Shkuratova
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Electrical stimulation became popular to a large extent as a result of the activities of Kots, who claimed force gains of up to 40% in elite athletes as a result of what was then a new form of stimulation.
He did not provide details of his published work, nor did he give references. electrical stimulation became popular despite the lack of research in the English-language literature. No studies published in English examined whether the "10/50/10" treatment regimen (10 seconds of stimulation followed by 50 seconds rest, repeated for 10 minutes) advocated by Kots is optimal, and only one study addressed whether maximum muscle torque was produced at an alternating current frequency of 2.5 kHz. The few studies that compared low-frequency monophasic pulsed current and electrical stimulation are inconclusive. This article reviews and provides details of the original studies by Kots and co-workers. The authors contend that these studies laid the foundations for the use of forms of electrical stimulation in physical therapy. The authors conclude that there are data in the -language literature that support the use of electrical stimulation but that some questions remain unanswered. [Ward AR, Shkuratova N. electrical stimulation: the early experiments. Phys Ther. 2002;82:1019-1030.]
Key Words: Alternating current, Electrical stimulation, Kilohertz frequencies, Transcutaneous electrical stimulation.

EMS FOR BODYBUILDING

EMS FOR BODYBUILDING
EMS is beneficial to bodybuilders who use it correctly. Since EMS may be able to stimulate muscle tissue which is not voluntarily stimulated, bodybuilders can use EMS soley or in conjunction with weights to supplement their regular training to fully exhaust muscles and to speed recuperation to enhance maximum growth.
EMS has been shown to help improve strength and muscle hypertrophy. It seems that slow-twitch, especially when pain tolerance is used to determine maximal power transmitted to a muscle gives the maximum benefit. However, low current settings utilized in a rythmic manner may be somewhat effective in stimulating slow-twitch muscle fibers.
As the scenario of Lee Haney using EMS in his quadriceps training suggests. EMS can be used to enhance recovery from bodybuilding training. Increased blood flow to the muscles helps to deliver nutrients necessary for recovery and subsequent growth while the pumping action (stimualtion/relaxation action of EMS training) helps to remove waste products, mainly lactic acid, from these muscles.
EMS will enable muscles to relax quicker and more completely. This in itself also serves to increase blood flow to and from the muscles. Several bodybuilders have reported muscle spasms following their workouts, especially in their calves and hamstrings. EMS is a very effective means of relieving these spasms.
Following very intense workouts, edema or fluid can occur. Such swelling inhibits recovery. The pumping action of EMS training can reduce edema and promote recovery in the manner described above.
EMS has also been shown to block pain signals referred to your brain. By stimulating alternate sensory mechanisms, EMS can reduce pain like the soreness we experience from intense bodybuilding.