Electronic Muscle Stimulators - Can They Help Your Workouts?

Photo: Globus

They're a regular fixture in physiotherapy clinics, and serious athletes and body builders have turned to them to help beat muscle fatigue, so will an electronic muscle simulator (EMS) help you take your workout to the next level? That's the question The New York Times recently asked NYC physical therapist Brendan Toner.

An EMS sends an electrical current through the muscle, causing it to contract, and they're most often used to relieve pain. But these days, they serve a few other functions -- like rejuvenating muscles after a tough workout, easing muscles spasms and strengthening weak muscles. Sounds like they're pretty useful -- but at $500 to $900 for a portable unit (the kind you use outside of a physio clinic), you'll want to be sure before you pick one up.

So what can it do for you? An EMS will help you fend off muscle fatigue that comes from an intense workout, as well as ease any muscle spasms. And, according to a study from the 2005 Journal of the American Physical Therapy Association, using a portable unit is just as effective as using the clinic one. It can also help you strengthen weak muscles, but Toner is quick to point out that it shouldn't be used in place of strength training, and the best way to increase strength is still by working out.

The bottom line? If you're really serious about your workout and have a few hundred to spend, one of these could really help your recovery. However, I suspect most of us will stick to stretching.