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Overview
About Electronic Muscle StimulatorsElectronic muscle stimulators are medical devices that treat a variety of muscle conditions. EMS devices use low-voltage electrical impulses to cause muscles to tense and relax. Although electronic muscle stimulators are approved for medical therapies, entrepreneurs have started selling these devices for hundreds of dollars as an effortless muscle-building alternative to actual exercise. Responding to reports of consumer mishaps with EMS devices, U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials are cracking down on this questionable marketing practice.
History
Based on carvings from tombs dating back at least 4,500 years, ancient Egyptians believed that the non-lethal shock of electric catfish found in the Nile could ease the pain from headaches. A more formal understanding of the benefits of electrical medical therapies didn't truly emerge until the mid-1960s. Low-voltage electronic muscle stimulators were developed in England just a few years later and their popularity in medical clinics and spas soared during the 1970s. The marketing of home units began in the early 1990s and wearable EMS units started being sold in the mid-1990s. These units are worn in a belt with electrodes extending to adhesive skin pads.
Function
Electronic muscle stimulators use electrical signals delivered via electrodes to trigger a muscle's contraction. The muscle then relaxes between shocks before tensing again when another electrical pulse is delivered.
Benefits
EMS devices are used in medical settings for rehabilitative purposes such as increasing range of motion, preventing muscle atrophy and relaxing muscle spasms. Patients recovering from a stroke, a serious injury or major surgery are typical candidates for this therapy. The goal is to help patients improve muscle function, not to increase muscle size or appearance.
Misconceptions
Electronic muscle stimulators may improve muscle tone. But despite what manufacturers claim in their advertising, EMS units won't magically make unwanted weight disappear or result in "rock hard abs." Healthy eating, weightlifting and other forms of exercise still are the best ways to build muscles and shed fat.
Electronic muscle stimulators should not be confused with a similar device called a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation unit. Instead of focusing on muscle-stimulation, a "TENS unit" uses electrical impulses to block pain signals.
Warning
A poorly designed or improperly used electronic muscle stimulator may cause skin irritation, painful bruising, burns and shocks, as well as potentially interfering with defibrillators and pacemakers. Always read and carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions when using EMS devices.
