11
Medium frequencies (20-50 Hz) can put
a high level of strain on the muscle, thus
promoting the muscular structure.
For TENS programmes:
Pain gate: A high frequency of 110 Hz
is good at blocking pain signals.
Endorphine release: A low frequency of
4 or 10 Hz allows for the release of
endorphins,
the
body’s
natural
morphine-like substances.
•
Pulse Width (measured in μs -
millionths of a second)
The
perfect EMS
unit has pulse widths
of 50 to 350
μs. Generally speaking, the
higher the pulse width, the more
"aggressive" the stimulation feels, if the
pulse width is set high enough, it will
usually elicit a muscle contraction,
which is required for an effective toning
of the muscle group selected.
For the TENS programmes (pain relief),
it is not desired to elicit a muscle
contraction, however Pulse Rate is
important because different frequency
settings target different nerve groups
and the setting will determine if the
"Gate Theory" or "Endorphin Theory" of
TENS will be used.
•
Work/Rest
All the EMS programmes (see A to H)
are intermittent.
Once you have reached a comfortable
level, 5 seconds after you stop pressing
the button, the intermittent Work/Rest
phase will start.
For each programme, the unit will go
through a stimulation phase (Work) for
1-40 seconds, followed by a phase
without stimulation (Rest) for a similar
time.
This is to allow your muscles to recover
from exercise and avoid fatigue.
During the Work period (
W
), the unit will
generate contractions, try to contract
the muscle voluntarily at the time to get
the best possible results.
This cycle Work/Rest will continue for
the
duration
of
the
programme
selected.
W
and
R
are displayed on the screen.
•
Ramp
RAMP is the time in seconds taken to
move up and down between zero and
the set stimulation strength (i.e. the time
taken to move between the Work
stimulation and the Rest period). The
perfect EMS
offers Ramp periods from
0 to 5 seconds.
•
Constant and Burst Modes
Constant mode is when the sensation is
continuous versus Burst mode when
the sensation, as its name implies, is
one of on and off. Constant mode is
often used for acute pain via Pain Gate
effect whereas Burst mode is useful in
chronic pain relief. Burst gives a
combination
of
Pain
Gate
and
Endorphin Release, but the squeezing
feeling may not be as comfortable. The
stimulation intensity will need to be
relatively high. In Constant mode, the
sensation is continuous and is more of
a tingling pins and needles type. See
programmes
S
and
T
.