Electric muscle stimulation, or EMS, most often used for therapeutic rehabilitation purposes, is the process of using low current electrical impulses to stimulate muscles and cause them to contract. In physical therapy or sports medicine practices, EMS is often used to help retrain injured or atrophied muscles. According to the FDA, while EMS devices may be able to temporarily firm and tone a muscle, as of November 2010 no devices have been approved for weight-loss or muscle-building purposes.
Claims
From the Electric Ab Stimulator being sold on late night infomercials to the expensive spa treatments promising cellulite reduction and body contouring, EMS devices are surrounded by marketing hype. The most exaggerated claim is one that promises you can achieve amazing abs and loss of unwanted body fat simply by wearing an EMS belt around your waist. However, the FDA states clearly that they are unaware of any scientific data that supports these type of claims. In contrast, there are numerous studies that tout the effectiveness of EMS for therapeutic and muscle rehabilitation purposes.
Features
EMS devices are available for sale in various sizes and modalities. The average machine used in sports medicine or chiropractic practices is a little larger than the portable units sold for home use. The unit features dials for frequency, pulse amplitude and time. One end of the lead wire plugs into the unit while the other end has an adhesive electrode pad which is placed directly on the skin over the muscle being treated. Several pads may be placed on the body at one time, depending on the injury and muscle being addressed. Portable home units are similar in function to medical units, but are normally smaller and are battery operated. The ab belts and various products not approved by the FDA are designed with the electrical device concealed by the exterior material, which is placed directly on the skin in order to deliver low-grade electric impulses to induce muscle contractions.
Benefits
According to the FDA, the effect of using EMS devices is primarily to assist recovery in a patient who has suffered impaired muscle function due to a medical condition. Physical therapists use EMS to increase range of motion, re-educate muscles and relax muscle spasms. Sports Medicine specialists may use EMS to strengthen specific muscles that have been damaged from a sports related injury.
Misconceptions
Advertisers often tout the myth of spot reduction. However, in a 2002 study appearing in the "Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research," researchers tested the claims of "rock hard abs" through the use of EMS devices. The results of the study did not substantiate any claims that EMS is effective for fat reduction, weight loss or for sculpting any particular muscle group in healthy individuals.
Warning
Make sure to thoroughly read all instructions and to proceed with caution when using any electric stimulation devices. Products that have not met FDA requirements may not be unsafe, but the FDA has received numerous reports from consumers regarding some of these products. Users of unregulated EMS devices have reported burns, skin irritation, pain, electrical shocks and interference with other devices like pacemakers.
References
- Food and Drug Administration: Consumer Products - Electric Muscle Stimulators
- FitStep: Do Electric Ab Stimulators Really Work?
- Beyond Six Pack Abs: Electric Ab Stimulators - are they effective?
- Ib3 Health: EMS products
- "Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research": Effects of Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Body
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