Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => The Knowledge => Health & Fitness => Topic started by: toontra on 13 February, 2019, 11:24:07 pm

Title: Electrical muscle stimulation - anyone tried it?
Post by: toontra on 13 February, 2019, 11:24:07 pm

Was reading about some of the budget home systems, for example:

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/electrostimulation-id_8384641.html (https://www.decathlon.co.uk/electrostimulation-id_8384641.html)

They make all sorts of claims, most of which I'm fairly sceptical about. 

However, I'm wondering if fitting these on the quads after a hard ride would have any therapeutic benefit.  Anyone tried it?

Title: Re: Electrical muscle stimulation - anyone tried it?
Post by: Ham on 14 February, 2019, 07:14:20 am

Seems to be TENS, which helps some -this refers https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/transcutaneous-electrical-nerve-stimulation-tens/

Some physios use it routinely, a few years ago we bought what appeared to be a decent unit for Mrs Ham and it seemed to work at the time. This appears to be a typical decathlon budget version, which would suggest that it will do the "job" whatever that might be, possibly not quite the same as a dedicated medical unit but could  be worth a go if you fancy.

ETA it appears that Boots now have an intro unit for less https://www.boots.com/health-pharmacy/electrical-health-diagnostics/tens-machines/boots-tens-digital-pain-relief-10165899 - no idea if having an app makes the decathlon version more versatile

Title: Re: Electrical muscle stimulation - anyone tried it?
Post by: T42 on 14 February, 2019, 08:43:15 am

I bought a Cefar multi-programme one 15 years ago when they were relatively new.  The TENS setting is excellent for small contractures close to the surface, e.g. sore trapezii from holding your head up on a long ride. I didn't have much success with sore quads or a gluteus medius contracture, and the other programmes such as muscle-building, which makes your muscles contract and relax convulsively, I found so disagreeable that I preferred the home trainer & so forth.

You have to be careful with the current levels or you can induce cramp, and electrodes over the blood vessels in the neck can be dangerous. Can't imagine why you'd put them there, though - to deepen your voice?

Title: Re: Electrical muscle stimulation - anyone tried it?
Post by: rafletcher on 14 February, 2019, 10:02:03 am

Sounds like the sort of thing my Grandmother had as a "slimming aid" some 50 years ago!

ETA, it was a "Slendertone" machine, which apparently are still a thing.

Title: Re: Electrical muscle stimulation - anyone tried it?
Post by: Phil W on 14 February, 2019, 01:58:59 pm

Had one in the 80's.  Can't say it really achieved much.  Now long gone.