Do electrostimulation suits really work? Are they dangerous?

Not so many years ago, one of Teleshop’s staples were belts or suits that all the muscles moved without having to make any movement. Fortunately, the belief that you can be in shape without getting up from the couch has faded over the years. However, now is the time electrostimulation suits, which act on the muscles during training to improve results. It sounds much better, and in fact, there are already some gyms that offer them in addition to primarily strength training. The problem is that this extra effort can backfire; because, according to a study recently published in science and sportsdangerous muscle damage can occur.

The study was conducted on eighteen people doing Pilates. It would be interesting to reproduce it on more volunteers involved in different sports. However, the results are sufficient to call for caution among those who use electrical stimulation suits during training.

Moreover, this warning would be especially necessary in unprepared people. The study was done on trained people, and even so, post-exercise muscle damage was significant, so it could be even worse in those without adequate training.

What are electrostimulators used for?

electrostimulation suits These are devices formed by a kind vest with top and bottom straps and a series of electrodes through which small electric shocks that stimulate muscle contraction. The goal is for them to contract in the same way that they naturally contract when the nervous system tells them to do so.

They are usually used both during power trainingto subject the muscles to greater force, as in rehabilitation various injuries.

Its advocates claim that they have many benefits, from streamlining learning to improving vascular capillarizationpassing through strengthening the pelvic floor after childbirth. Recommended even for obese people, as muscle stimulation will help speed up your metabolism and burn more calories than exercise alone. In short, electrostimulation suits seem to have every advantage. But is all that glitters gold?

Possible increased damage during exercise

In a study just published, participants went through two different sessions Pilates mat. That is, Pilates, in which all exercises are performed on a mat on the floor, without the use of simulators.

In the first, longer session, they were not provided with any aids. However, in the second they put on electrical stimulation suit. Also, the session was somewhat shorter, as it is supposed to be compensated by the costume.

All had blood samples taken. both before and immediately after training, after 24 hours and 48 hours. The purpose of this sampling was to analyze the levels of substances associated with muscle damage. This is, for example, the case of creatine kinase, a protein that is involved in the process of muscle contraction and can the escape myofibrils of injured muscle. Therefore, when its levels are raised, there is a suspicion that there may be some type muscle degeneration or damage.

When analyzing the results, it was seen that creatine kinase leveland also from other biomarkers of muscle damagewere much higher after use electrical stimulation suit.

In addition, as indicated in the study, the levels were close to what could already be considered rhabdomyolysis. This is a disease that occurs when a badly damaged muscle releases so many substances (creatine kinase and many others) that the kidneys cannot filter the blood. This may cause kidney failurewhich in the most extreme cases can even lead to death.

In the study case, rhabdomyolysis was not achieved. However, the authors of this study cite some studies in which this disease has been associated with electrical stimulation suits.

Therefore, while some benefits were found with this type of device, they concluded in this study that they can not compensate for risks. We are not talking about a ban on its use, this is far from the case, but about using it with great care, especially among untrained people.

Why do these injuries occur?

Having said all this, it remains only to find out what caused these results. How could it be that a device that stimulates muscles in the same way that we do ourselves can cause such harm?

The reason, as one of the authors of the study explained in his Twitter account, William Lopez Luke, that muscles usually work in pairs. While one contracts, its opposite relaxes. When we perform physical exercises without additional devices, this is done normally. However, electrical stimulation suits can cause muscles that should be relaxing to also contract.

Thus, not only without relieving muscle tension, but becoming more and more intense until the muscles are damaged, as we have seen. In general, training muscles is a great idea, but in no case. These types of machines, which promise to make the effort more bearable, can come with a hefty price tag. Much better to finish the workout more tired, but knowing that we did it. The exercises are hard but necessary. Let’s stop there.