Slendertone and Contour are two brands that make abdominal belt exercisers, which promise to flatten your stomach without a workout. The products are identical in their purpose, but vary in their features and cost. As with any exercise equipment, the Slendertone Flex and Contour AB Sculptor need to be used under the supervision of a health care professional.
Mechanism
Both the Slendertone Flex and the Contour abdominal sculptors work with Electro Muscle Stimulation, or EMS. This mechanism causes the abdominal muscle to contract through stimulation of the muscle fiber. The generation of impulses to work the abs is similar to that produced by the units that are used in the rehabilitation of injured muscles. In both products, gel pads are placed on the body to protect against injury from direct EMS.
Features
The Slendertone Flex Pro offers 100 strengthening intensity levels. It has seven programs which each offer varying levels of training intensity. The Slendertone GO! has two toning programs that have adjustable intensity, but the company does not specify how much you can adjust the levels on this model. The Contour Sculpting System offers only six programs, but four of those have five levels each for 22 programs in total. Contour states that they also offer 100 intensity levels.
Extras & Cost
The Slendertone Flex models are cheaper at about $130 for the Pro and $100 for the GO!, as of 2010. The Flex comes with seven toning program and the GO! has two, however, those are all the inclusions. The Contour is priced from $180 to $200 online, but includes batteries, a diet and exercise guide, and instructional video and a travel clutch to store the abdominal sculptor in. As for warranties, Slendertone offers two years on all of its products while Contour offers one year.
Considerations
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration acknowledges that EMS abdominal toners may provide temporary strengthening, toning or firming of the muscle. The FDA does not support any claims that these devices are effective for permanent weight loss or reduction of fat in the stomach. The FDA also denies the claim that these devices will give anyone "rock hard abs." Using the Slendertone Flex or Contour abdominal sculptors may work to reshape your body in conjunction with a diet and exercise program.
Warning
The use of exercise equipment such as the Slendertone Flex and the Contour AB Sculptor should only take place after you have received a clean bill of health from your doctor. These EMS devices are pieces of equipment that should only be used as directed for the purpose described in the instruction manuals. If you have any doubt about the safety of your equipment or have received an injury while using your abdominal belt, contact the FDA. Find a link for reporting problems in the Resources section.
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