Increased endurance
We are familiar with the benefits of electrostimulation for muscle rehabilitation and active recovery in the context of sporting activities, but less is said about its ability to increase endurance through the use of Sportelec electrostimulation devices.
The brand has specifically designed programmes for this muscle training objective. When we talk about endurance in electrostimulation, we are focusing more specifically on the muscles, but we will see that muscle endurance increased by electrical currents also has an effect on the athlete’s overall physical endurance. Thus, in the context of respiratory failure, electrostimulation is discussed because the development of muscle mass—particularly for walking—will have a direct effect on the patient’s endurance for movement. Respiratory failure is difficult to treat and gradually leads to a loss of mobility due to muscle wasting. Muscles have the peculiarity that they only exist because you use them; otherwise, they disappear after gradually atrophying. Hence the idea among therapists to use electrostimulation to tone atrophied muscles and restore patients’ ability to move. These individuals’ limited ability to walk means they can no longer maintain their muscle mass; they are very often elderly people with poor cardiorespiratory capacity.
By regaining muscle mass, they not only start walking again but also relieve the strain on their heart, which, despite poor oxygenation, is once again able to cope with exertion. There is therefore a link between muscle mass and the ability to exert oneself physically. The healthier and more developed the muscle, the less effort the heart has to make to use it, and the better the performance will be. In cycling, for example, we increase the gear ratio on riders’ bikes during training on certain hills to force them to develop greater muscle strength than they would normally use on their usual gear. By doing this, they build muscle strength whilst also strengthening their heart and increasing their muscular endurance.
There is therefore a significant benefit to using the endurance programmes on your Sportelec; repeating these sessions will increase your localised muscle strength and make physical exertion easier, whilst boosting your performance