Compex Runner - Manual (Page 12)

10
English
III 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)
In 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 mechanical
response (= muscular 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, according to
muscular fibres. In fact, different types
of muscular fibres may be distinguished
according to their respective contraction
speed: slow, intermediate and fast fibres.
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 sensitive
nerves
The electrical impulses can also excite the
sensitive nerve fibres to obtain an analgesic
or pain-relieving effect.
The stimulation of the tactile sensitive
nerve fibres blocks the transmission 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 programmes,
electrostimulation can be used to treat
localised sharp or chronic pains as well as
muscular pains.
Caution: Do not use the pain relief programmes
for a long period without medical advice.
Electrical
pulse
Motor
nerve
Stimulated
muscle
Transmission
of the excitation
Excitation
Elementary mechanical response - twitch