Compex Wireless - Manual (Page 7)

User Manual
EN
6
4 HOW DOES ELECTROSTIMULATION WORK?
The principle of electrostimulation is to stimulate nerve fibres by means of electrical impulses transmitted by electrodes. The electrical pulses
generated by Compex stimulators are high quality pulses - offering safety, comfort and efficiency - which can stimulate different types of
nerve fibres:
1. The motor nerves, to stimulate a muscular response. The quantity and the benefits obtained depend on the stimulation parameters and this
is known as electro-muscular stimulation (EMS).
2. Certain types of sensitive nerve fibres to obtain analgesic or pain-relieving effects.
1. Motor nerve stimulation (EMS)
During 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 muscle 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 mechanical response (= muscle twitch). The latter
constitutes the basic requirement for muscular contraction. This muscular response is completely identical to muscular work controlled by
the brain. In other words, the muscle cannot distinguish whether the command comes from the brain or from the stimulator.
The parameters of the Compex programmes (number of impulses per second, contraction time, rest time, total programme time) subject
the muscles to different types of work, depending on the muscle fibres. In fact, different types of muscle fibres may be distinguished
according to their respective contraction speed: slow, intermediate and fast fibres. The fast fibres will obviously predominate in a sprinter,
while a marathon runner will have more slow fibres. With a good knowledge of human physiology and a perfect mastery of the stimulation
parameters of the various programmes, muscular work can be directed very precisely towards the desired goal (muscular reinforcement,
increased blood flow, firming up, etc.).
2. Stimulation of the sensory nerves
The electrical impulses can also excite the sensory nerve fibres to obtain an analgesic or pain relieving effect. The stimulation of the tactile
sensory nerve fibres blocks the transmission of pain by the nervous system. The stimulation of another type of sensory fibres creates
an increase in the production of endorphins and, therefore, a reduction in pain. With pain relief programmes, electrostimulation can be used
to treat localised acute or chronic pain as well as muscle pain.
Caution: Do not use pain relief programmes for prolonged periods without medical advice.
ELECTROSTIMULATION BENEFITS
Electrostimulation is a very effective way to make your muscles work:
• With significant improvement in different muscular qualities
• Without cardiovascular or mental fatigue
• With limited stress placed on the joints and tendons. Electrostimulation thus allows a greater quantity of work to be done by the muscles
compared with voluntary activity.
To be effective, this work must involve the greatest possible number of muscle fibres and the number of fibres that are working depends on
the stimulation energy. It is therefore necessary to work with the maximum tolerable energy. This aspect of stimulation is controlled by the
user. The higher the stimulation energy, the greater the number of muscle fibres that are working and, therefore, the more significant the
progress achieved. To maximise your results, Compex recommends that you complement your electrostimulation sessions with other efforts,
such as:
• Regular exercise
• Proper and healthy nutrition
• A balanced lifestyle
Electrical
Pulse
Excitation Transmission of
the Excitation
Motor nerve
Stimulated
muscle
Elementary mechanical reponse - twitch