Perhaps you have heard a lot about EMS training and are wondering if it is all that it is cracked up to be. If you are, the answer is yes, and the proof is, Bruce Lee used EMS training! As you probably already know, Bruce Lee was an amazing athlete who was known for accomplishing superhuman feats, as well as having the near-perfect body. To achieve these, many people know that he performed hundreds or even thousands of reps of gruelling exercises daily, but few know that he also used Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS).
EMS, also known as Electromyostimulation or Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) is a term that has gained some traction in recent years, leading many to label it as a fad. However this technique has been around for many years, and if Bruce Lee trusted it, maybe you should too.
You have probably come across EMS devices in ads that promise you toned muscles within a month without you having to do much more than sitting on your couch all day. The first thing to note is that whilst EMS technology is proven to work, not every EMS device is made equal. At SIXPAD, we use innovative technology to achieve unprecedented results with our range of EMS devices.
To understand the benefits of EMS devices, you will need to first understand exactly how the normal physiology of muscle contractions work.
HOW DO MUSCLES WORK?
Have you ever wondered how your body carries out movements? From a simple wave of the hand to complicated dance routines, it all comes down to interactions between your brain, nerves, and muscles. Your brain is the command centre, your nerves the conduit of information, and your muscles are the heavy lifters.
Any time you need to make a move, your brain sends signals through your nerves to your muscles to tell them how to go about it. Specific movements are achieved by muscle groups working together to carry out a coordinated series of contractions and relaxations.
HOW DOES EMS WORK?
EMS is a process that hacks the natural sequence of events. Instead of your brain having to trigger muscle groups to contract, an EMS device will send electrical impulses to a targeted group of muscles through your nerves to trigger contractions.
EMS sends stronger and more targeted signals than the ones produced by the brain. This means that the contractions produced by EMS can last longer and are more intense than those you produce voluntarily. These strong signals are also able to stimulate deep muscle fibres that are not usually affected by normal exercise routines.
Furthermore, even though it produces muscle contractions that even the most intense workouts cannot produce, it spares your tendons and joints.
WHAT CAN EMS BE USED FOR?
EMS has many applications. It can be used as a therapeutic practice especially in physical therapy to help prevent muscle atrophy in people with conditions that result in difficulty moving muscles and joints. It has also made its way into sports and fitness training where it can be used to:
- Improve recovery time: With fitness training, you are likely to experience soreness and inflammation at some point. EMS can help with recovery. The contractions it produces can help increase circulation and decrease swelling without any extra effort from you. This contributes to a faster recovery.
- Enhance muscle strength and endurance: EMS is not a replacement for your regular training exercises. But, it can help to enhance the effects of those exercises by producing more intense, longer, and deeper muscle contractions.
HOW CAN YOU USE EMS?
Bruce Lee, a pioneer of modern-day martial arts, knew the benefits of EMS and used it in his exercise regimes as is illustrated in a movie based on his life, “Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story”. There are many ways that you can also integrate EMS into your daily routines and workouts to reap the benefits of this process. Some are listed below:
- Use EMS units to boost recovery after hard workouts.
- Stimulate your muscles during long periods of inactivity, e.g. long flights, with EMS.
- Use EMS to warm up and prep your muscles before workouts.
- Use it during workouts to get shorter but more effective routines.
If you would like to learn more about SIXPAD EMS devices and how they work, get in touch with us and we would be glad to walk you through the process.