Compex FIT - Manual (Page 148)

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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 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 muscle 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 programs (number of impulses per second, contraction
time, rest time, total program 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 programs, muscular work can be directed very precisely
towards the desired goal (muscular reinforcement, increased blood flow, firming up,
etc.).