What is EMS training?

EMS stands for Electric Muscle Stimulation, or Electric MyoStimulation, and is a highly effective full-body workout. EMS activates up to 92% of muscles simultaneously, utilizing low and mid-frequency electric currents to significantly increase the body’s natural muscle contractions. With conventional weight training methods, muscles are controlled by the central nervous system. In EMS-Training the musculature receives electrical impulses generated by an external device and delivered through electrodes attached to the skin, resulting in more muscle fibers being activated at the same time. This also allows for better targeting of deeper muscle groups resulting in a more balanced workout and increased core stability.

How does EMS-Training work?

EMS-Training is personal training. The 20-minute training session is always conducted with a qualified trainer, who monitors the training and its success. It works by sending low frequency electric impulses to contract your muscles while you are working out. The contraction is always followed by a relaxation phase. In a typical training program two repeating phases – electrical impulses which contract the muscles and a relaxation phase – each lasting between 4- and 5-seconds alternate. The trainer will adjust the impulse level throughout the workout according to your needs and will demonstrate the exercises, which will be tailored to your individual training goals, as well as control and correct your movements throughout the training session.

The Science Behind the Method

The science behind EMS is not new, although the concept of using it as a training method is. EMS has been used for decades in physical therapy, rehabilitation, and sports medicine, as well as by pro-athletes such as Usain Bolt and Rafael Nadal. Over the last 10 years, EMS has evolved into one of the largest fitness trends in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

A vast number of studies on the effectiveness of EMS-Training have found:

• Improvements in speed and maximum strength after a period of EMS training

• Significant pain relief in participants suffering from back pain

• EMS to be an effective training method for the elderly and for cardiology patients.

Because of the simultaneous activation of the agonists, antagonists, and the stabilization musculature, muscles can be addressed more intensively and for a longer period of time.