Compex Vitality - Manual (Page 17)

English
17
IV. HOW DOES ELECTROSTIMULATION
WORK?
T he principle of electrostimulation is
to stimulate nerve fibres by means of
electrical impulses transmitted by
electrodes.
T he electrical impulses generated by
Compex stimulators are high-quality
impulses – ensuring safety, comfort
and efficiency – that stimulate
different types of nerve fibres:
1. the motor nerves to stimulate a muscular
response. The quantity of work and the benefits
obtained depend on the stimulation parameters.
This is known as electromuscularstimulation (EMS).
2. certain types of sensitive nerve fibres to
obtain analgesic or pain-relieving effects.
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.
T he principle of electrostimulation
accurately reproduces the process
observed during a voluntary contrac-
tion. 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.
T his 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.
T he parameters of the Compex
programs (number of impulses per
second, contraction time, rest time,
total program time) subject the
Electrical
impulse
Motor
nerve
Stimulated
muscle
Basic mechanical response = muscular twitch
Excitation
Excitation
transmission
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. The fast
fibres will obviously predominate in a
sprinter, while a marathon runner will
have more slow fibres.
W ith a good knowledge of human
physiology and a perfect mastery of
the stimulation parameters of the
various programs, the muscular work
can be directed very precisely towards
the desired goal (muscular reinforce-
ment, 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-relieving effect.
T he 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.
W ith pain relief programs, electrosti-
mulation can be used to treat localized
sharp or chronic pains as well as
muscular pains.
Vitality-manuel:Vitality-manuel 0706 4/04/08 11:26 Page 17