Electric stimulation of muscles is not an effective replacement for exercise. Although some over-the-counter electronic muscle stimulators are advertised as products that will give "rock hard abs" without you having to lift a finger, there is no evidence that these devices produce any fitness benefits in healthy individuals. In medical settings, however, electronic muscle stimulation can be used to improve muscle functioning in people who are not able to exercise effectively on their own due to a health condition.
Benefits of Exercise
No technology or magic pill can effectively replace exercise and its multitude of health benefits. Only with exercise will you get stronger, feel better, look your best and live longer. Getting regular physical activity strengthens and improves the health of your heart, your lungs, your muscles and your bones. Exercise reduces your risk factors for several chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis. Exercise also plays an important role in weight management and obesity prevention. Other valuable benefits of getting regular physical activity include increased energy levels and improved sleep, mood and libido.
Effects of EMS in Healthy Individuals
Achieving involuntary muscle contractions using a device called an electric muscle stimulator, or EMS, is not an effective replacement for exercise in healthy individuals. A study published in "Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research" in 2002 concluded that using an EMS device produced no demonstrable effects on muscle strength, body fat or muscle tone in healthy young people. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, while applying an electrical current may cause a muscle to contract -- strengthening it to some extent -- the effect is not significant enough to affect muscle size or appearance.
Therapeutic Uses of EMS
EMS devices can benefit people with impaired mobility due to medical conditions. In medical settings, they are used to help improve muscle functioning and prevent atrophy in people who are unable to perform regular exercise due to injuries or illness. Medical conditions that might be treated with EMS therapy include stroke, spinal cord injuries and cerebral palsy. If you have a medical condition that severely limits your exercise capacity, EMS therapy may be more effective, in some cases, than attempting exercise on your own. A study published in "Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair" in 2007 concluded that, in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, a regimen of EMS therapy was more effective in increasing mobility and muscle strength than isometric exercise.
EMS Regulation and Safety
In the United States, the FDA is responsible for regulating the sale of all EMS devices. Most FDA-reviewed devices, which have met the agency's premarket safety requirements for electronic muscle stimulators, are intended for use in medical settings. Using an EMS product that has not been cleared by the FDA may be dangerous. The FDA has received reports of unregulated EMS devices causing shocks, burns and interference with critically important medical devices, such as pacemakers. Unregulated EMS devices may have safety problems that can lead to electrocution. If you do purchase an EMS device, ensure that it has the FDA approval.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Exercise: 7 Benefits of Regular Physical Activity; July 25, 2009
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Electronic Muscle Stimulators; April 2009
- "Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research"; Effects of Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Body Composition, Muscle Strength, and Physical Appearance; J.P. Porcari, et al.; May 2002
- "Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair"; Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Versus Volitional Isometric Strength Training in Children with Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy: A Preliminary Study; S.K. Stackhouse, et al.; November-December 2007
