EMS stands for electrical muscle stimulation, and when used as part of an exercise routine, it tones your muscles more effectively than working out in more traditional ways. In other words, you don’t have to work out as long to achieve the same effects.
During an EMS training session, you’ll put on a special training gear that looks like a wetsuit and is lined with small pads. These pads provide electrical impulses to your muscles, causing them to contract. You’re executing exercises like squats, lunges, and bicep curls while the machine “shocks” your muscle.
The science behind this is that the machine stimulates the muscles more than completing the maneuver alone. A regular workout is thought to use roughly half of our muscle fibers, but adding an EMS machine increases that to up to 95% of the fibers in the muscle.
As a result, you only need to exercise for 20 minutes every session, and two sessions per week are comparable to six hours of typical activity.
So, is EMS safe?
You may be curious about the consequences of EMS training, including the health and safety of its users. After all, you wouldn’t be reading this if you weren’t interested in what EMS has to offer and its potential consequences, would you?
Of course, before doing any training with EMS equipment, it is indeed critical to understand the level of safety necessary to properly carry out your workout routine.
Device security
The type of connection between the device and the tablet or remote control that your EMS training equipment has will determine the safety of the training. You face the risk of exiting the training session if the connection is unreliable.
A lack of connectivity may prevent the tablet from communicating directly with the EMS training machine, preventing you from changing the equipment’s parameters.
When EMS training first gained traction, the EMS power suits were connected to the console by means of a radiofrequency connection. Through the years, the suit has gradually become more innovative and comfortable for the user to wear.
Take for example the We202 Wireless EMS power suit. Our suit uses Bluetooth frequency to receive commands from the console. This basically means a faster response rate on the part of the power suit and a more accurate control of the power levels of the suit, when needed.
This is based on our EMS protocol, which dictates that we should assume that the user will initially feel overwhelmed and would want to reduce the intensity but is unable to do so on his or her own. While this is not unsafe, it may be a bit uncomfortable for those not used to EMS training.
At We202 Wireless EMS, we also make sure that our in-house trainers are always on standby to coach and assist our clients so that every session is in keeping not just with your health and fitness targets, but also with your desired level of comfort.
Physical safety
Another critical issue that must be addressed is the uncertainty about our health. Is electrostimulation equipment harmful to our health?
The key to understanding this lies in the fact that the stimulus employed for muscle contraction is an electric current, whether it is voluntary (where our body provides the command through chemical signals) or involuntary (by way of EMS training equipment).
During voluntary stimulation, the brain delivers a message to the muscles via the central nervous system to activate them. Meanwhile, the EMS training device transmits an instruction to the motor neurons, causing the muscles to artificially contract.
Both approaches stimulate the muscles in the same way; therefore, EMS training equipment is totally compatible with human bodies. The difference is the source of the signal (voluntary or involuntary).
Hence, EMS training is a highly safe technique for our physique—one that is consistent with how our body normally functions.
Creating a more enjoyable EMS experience
Now that we have an understanding of just how safe the EMS equipment and the training are, we leave you with some ideas to help you attain your wellness goals while being safe and comfortable.
Be honest
The machine’s settings must be determined using an acceptable criterion, since they will rely on the individual demands of each person, as well as their health and physical condition, among other things.
While the We202 Wireless EMS staff are always present to spot you and adjust to your needs, we also encourage you to be honest about any pre-existing conditions you may have, so that we can properly temper the settings and recommend the appropriate program for you.
Manage your meals
Eat something 45 minutes to 2 hours before your workout.
Eat in moderation and avoid meals high in fat. We recommend eating something light that is high in quick-release carbs and will provide you with adequate energy for your workout (maybe a banana or a similar piece of fruit), especially if you are trying to reduce weight.
Conversely, maintaining a diet that is rich in protein is suggested if you are looking to bulk up and tone your muscles.
Stay hydrated
When performing an EMS training session, your body needs sufficient fluids.
Drink half a liter of water an hour before your workout to ensure that your muscles transmit electrical impulses correctly. Also, remember to drink before, during, and after the activity to compensate for the loss of water and electrolytes.
Start slow, finish strong
We202 Wireless EMS staff are on standby to manage your routine, but for those who wish to train on their own, it is recommended that you let your routine start with low-intensity pulses.
It is essential that your body acclimatizes to the high-intensity stimuli that it will be subjected to. We usually start gradually and increase the intensity till we reach an appropriate level where we will carry out our training session.
This gradual increase can be done during the warm-up before the main workout routine. The time might range from 1 to 3 minutes.
Don’t forget to rest!
EMS training, like any other activity or training regimen, demands you to give your body time to recuperate entirely.
Otherwise, you may be unable to attend the following session, which may be counterproductive. It is a well-known fact that one of the deciding factors when scheduling the following session is the time your body needs to recuperate completely.
The bottom line
With this article, we hope to have addressed any apprehensions you might have concerning EMS training.
Needless to say, EMS training is a completely safe alternative to traditional workout routines. Aside from this, it allows you to free up time which you could spend on other leisure activities.
Trying out a completely novel way to train may seem intimidating and downright scary at first, but knowing what to do before, during, and after will help you manage your concerns and turn the entire workout into a fun experience.
If you’d like to know more about the We202 Wireless EMS training program and the equipment that we use, feel free to send us a message or visit one of our branches near you!
