Active electrostimulation
What’s the question, you might ask? The answer is obvious: passive means I do nothing; active means I do something – yes, but what?
The question lies in the answer, and the answer in the question. For a few years now, you’ve seen this principle of active electrostimulation popping up all over Europe. Large electrostimulation machines connected to individuals wearing suits fitted with electrodes perform movements in time with the rhythm of red and green light signals.
At the red signal, electrical impulses are sent through the suit to stimulate the muscles of those taking part in the activity; at the green signal, it is rest time, when the athlete relaxes before the next impulse, and so on. When we talk about activity during the active electrostimulation session, it is not a matter of doing a fitness session during the session, but simply of accompanying the pulses with appropriate movements; thus, when the signal appears, you adopt a static position during which you contract your muscles, facilitating voluntary contraction whilst the current increases this contraction involuntarily.
The benefit is that you stimulate more muscles at the same time and with greater intensity; the more you contract voluntarily, the more current you absorb, thereby amplifying both voluntary and involuntary action. This highly effective technique does, however, have drawbacks, particularly during the first few sessions, as the engagement of many muscles—sometimes antagonistic ones—can cause significant muscle pain, especially among beginners. For experienced athletes, it is an excellent way to supplement daily training, particularly in the run-up to competitions, as it has been observed that the effect of the current on so many stimulated areas creates a general reaction in the body that stimulates all the nerve centres, much like an electric shock.
Just as in elite sports training where cold baths or rooms cooled to -30 degrees are used, active electrostimulation triggers a physiological response that creates a sense of well-being and freedom in the body, conducive to the full release of physical potential during a competition. Perhaps the act of resisting involuntary contraction during a voluntary contraction creates a phenomenon of concentration that strengthens the competitor’s will; there is also an analgesic effect throughout the body, which undoubtedly has a significant impact and could, in fact, be perceived as doping, as the electrostimulation currents act as powerful painkillers, particularly at high doses; perhaps clinical trials will soon be conducted in this regard.
In any case, the effects are noticeable, particularly on powerful electrostimulation machines such as the Sport-Elec Station; Sportelec has indeed adopted this technique but with ultra-powerful sports electrostimulation programmes that enable high-level training. So is there a paradox or a contradiction in practising passive electrostimulation or active electrostimulation? Not at all; what changes is the method and the number of muscles engaged. Thus, with a Multisport Pro or a Free Action from Sportelec, you can perform voluntary contractions at the same time as involuntary ones. If you select an Endurance programme, once you’ve completed the warm-up phase, you’ll accompany the contraction with a voluntary movement. If you have attached the electrodes or the Sportelec accessory to an arm or thigh, you accompany the arrival of the electrical impulse with a voluntary contraction, thereby enhancing the effect of your session.
The advantage of Sportelec is that you also have power up to over 100mA, whereas a machine like Myabodyteck does not exceed 30mA. It’s easy to test this with your Sportelec device and it’s fun. Don’t forget to try it on your back too, using the specially designed vest or the Free Action motor electrodes. A sense of well-being guaranteed