Perhaps not everyone knows what electrostimulation is, is a technique that, using the pulses or that act on the muscles or on the nerve terminals(TENS drives), It causes a muscle contraction similar to that voluntary, It can be used in three different ways:
1° muscle stimulation, ideal for developing strength;
2° stimulation of nerve endings, ideal for treatments for pain and for aesthetic treatments;
3° ionoforesi, ideal for directing drugs.
The instrument most suited for electrostimulation is a constant current generator that:
- has rectangular pulses offset and symmetrical, the so-called TENS pulses (transcutanic eletric nerve stimulation) and pulse iontophoresis,
- is able to adapt to the resistance of the different tissues (for example skin and fat), which are located between the electrodes and the muscle to be stimulated,
- has programs in which the pulses are calibrated according to two variables: the frequency (pulse per second in Herz), which must be between 1 e 120 Hz, and cronaxie, that is, the pulse width, measured in microseconds (gives 30 a 450).
advantages the use of electrostimulation
Sport: work out of muscle fibers usually little use in normal working sessions, times lower recovery, isolation of the muscle group treated, preservation of muscle-tendon system, saving of psycho-physical energy, Use of a greater number of muscle fibers compared to voluntary contraction, without overloading the joints, better blood circulation, activation of endorphins;
Rehabilitation: treatment of muscle reduce post-traumatic and post-surgical, locomotor recovery, restoration of muscle strength, rebalancing the proprioceptive control, treating contractures;
aesthetics: improvement of the capillary microcirculation, fat mobilization, drainage of liquids, increased metabolism and cellular activities, localized deposits of fat reduction and cellulite, toning and firming tissue;
Welfare: reduction in pain, increase in endorphins, maintenance of muscle tone.
A complete stimulation program should follow this path: heating, work out, cool down.
Electrostimulation programs
- Development of force: stimulation of the fast twitch muscle fibers in mixed anaerobic and aerobic metabolism
- Development of explosive force: to improve maximal strength and speed strength
- the resisting force development: to improve the resistance to the intense effort
- Toning: to improve muscle tone through the stimulation of the lens fibers (Long periods of time at low frequencies contraction)
- active recovery: to speed recovery after a competition or an intense workout
- Capillarization: to increase the blood flow
- Lipolisi: to stimulate fat mobilization and the drainage of fluids
- Pain relief: to reduce pain by stimulating nerve endings with medium frequencies
- endorphinic: for the release of endorphins pacing at medium frequencies
- atrophy: to retrieve the volume of muscle by stimulating the lens fibers
- Decontratturante: for a tonolysis action.
Electrostimulators are used for isometric muscle work; the intensity of the electrostimulation must always be below the pain threshold, especially for the purpose analgesic TENS, where stimulation of the underlying muscle tissues should be avoided.
Contraindications
Electrical stimulation has no contraindications, However, it is prohibited to pacemakers, pregnant women and the epileptic, and it is still recommended to consult your physician before using any device to electrostimulation.