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HOW DOES ELECTROMUSCULAR STIMULATION (EMS)
WORK?
The principle of electrostimulation is to stimulate nerve fibers by means of electrical
impulses transmitted by electrodes. The electrical pulses generated by Compex Sport
Elite stimulator are high quality pulses - offering safety, comfort and efficiency.
The motor nerves, to stimulate a muscular response. The quantity and the benefits
obtained depend on the stimulation parameters and this is known as electro-
muscular stimulation (EMS).
ELECTROMUSCULAR STIMULATION (EMS)
In voluntary activity, the order for muscular work comes from the brain, which sends
a command to the nerve fibers in the form of an electrical signal. This signal is then
transmitted to the muscular fibers, which contract. The principle of electrostimulation
accurately reproduces the process observed during a voluntary contraction. The
stimulator sends an electrical current impulse to the nerve fibers, exciting them.
This excitation is then transmitted to the muscular fibers causing a basic mechanical
response (= muscular twitch). The latter constitutes the basic requirement for
muscular contraction. This muscular response is completely identical to muscular
work controlled by the brain. In other words, the muscle cannot distinguish whether
the command comes from the brain or from the stimulator. The parameters of the
Compex Sport Elite programs (number of impulses per second, contraction time, rest
time, total program time) subject the muscles to different types of work, according
to muscular fibers. In fact, different types of muscular fibers may be distinguished
according to their respective contraction speed: slow, intermediate and fast fibers.
Fast fibers will obviously predominate in a sprinter, while a marathon runner will
have more slow fibers. With a good knowledge of human physiology and a perfect
mastery of the stimulation parameters of the various programs, muscular work
can be directed very precisely towards the desired goal (muscular reinforcement,
increased blood flow, firming up, etc.).
INTRODUCTION
Electrical
pulse
Stimulated
muscle
Elementary mechanical response - Twitch
Transmission
of the excitation
Excitation
Motor
nerve
