1. Motor nerve
stimulation (EMS)
I
n voluntary activity, the order for
muscular work comes from the
brain, which sends a command to
the nerve fibres in the form of an
electrical signal. This signal is then
transmitted to the muscular fibres,
which contract.
The principle of electrostimulation
accurately reproduces the process
observed during a voluntary
contraction. The stimulator sends
an electrical current impulse to the
nerve fibres, exciting them. This
excitation is then transmitted to the
muscular fibres causing a basic me-
chanical response (= muscular
twitch). The latter constitutes the
basic requirement for muscular
contraction.
This muscular response is comple-
tely identical to muscular work
controlled by the brain. In other
words, the muscle cannot distin-
guish whether the command
comes from the brain or from the
stimulator.
Electrical
impulse
Excitation
Excitation
transmission
Motor
nerve
Stimulated
muscle
Basic mechanical response = muscular twitch
T
he parameters of the Compex
programs (number of impulses
per second, contraction time, rest
time, total program time)
16
subject the muscles to different
types of work, according to mus-
cular fibres. In fact, different
types of muscular fibres may be
distinguished according to their
respective contraction speed:
slow, intermediate and fast
fibres. With a good knowledge
of human physiology and a
perfect mastery of the stimula-
tion parameters of the various
programs, the muscular work
can be directed very precisely
towards the desired goal (muscu-
lar reinforcement, increased
blood flow, firming up, etc.).
2. Stimulation of the
sensitive nerves
T
he electrical impulses can also
excite the sensitive nerve fibres to
obtain an analgesic or pain-relie-
ving effect.
The stimulation of the tactile sen-
sitive nerve fibres blocks the trans-
mission of pain by the nervous
system. The stimulation of another
type of sensitive fibres creates an
increase in the production of
endorphins and, therefore, a
reduction of pain.
With pain relief programs,
electrostimulation can be used to
treat localized sharp or chronic
pains as well as muscular pains.
Do not use the pain relief programs
for a long period without medical
advice.
Benefits of
electrostimulation
Electrostimulation is a very effective
way to make your muscles work:
■
with significant improvement of
different muscular qualities,
■
without cardio-vascular or mental
fatigue,
■
with limited stress on the joints and
tendons.
Electrostimulation thus allows a
greater quantity of work by the mus-
cles compared with voluntary activity.
To be effective, this work must involve
the greatest possible number of mus-
V. USAGE PRINCIPLES
T
he usage principles presented in this section should be considered
general rules. For all programs, it is recommended that you read
carefully the information and advice on use presented in chapter VII of
this manual ("Programs and specific applications").
1. Placement of
electrodes
It is recommended that you com-
ply with the suggested place-
ments. To do this, refer to the pictures
and pictograms shown on the poster
and to the "Table with placements of
electrodes and stimulation positions" in
chapter VI.
A
stimulation cable consists of
two poles:
a positive pole (+) = red connection
a negative pole (–) = black connection
A
different electrode must be
connected to each of the two
poles.
cular fibres. The number of fibres
working depends on the stimulation
energy. It will therefore be necessary
to use the maximum tolerable energy.
The user controls this aspect of stimu-
lation. The higher the stimulation
energy, the greater the number of
muscular fibres that are working and,
therefore, the more significant the pro-
gress achieved.
To maximize your results, Compex re-
commends that you complement your
electrostimulation sessions with other
efforts, like:
■
regular exercise,
■
proper and healthy nutrition,
■
balanced lifestyle.
N
ote: It is possible and normal to
have an electrode arrangement
that leads one electrode connec-
tion free from a cable.
F
or all muscle electrostimulation
programs, i.e., programs invol-
ving muscle contractions, it is
important to place the positive
polarity electrode on the muscle
motor point.
A
lways use the size of electrodes
shown in the pictures. Unless you
have other specific medical ins-
tructions, always follow the pla-
cement directions in the pictures.
If necessary, find the best position
by slightly moving the positive
polarity electrode, so as to obtain
17