Apart from the limitations that occur with an acute illness (such as difficulty breathing with a respiratory tract infection), exercise during this time also increases the immunological stress on the body. This includes, among other things, a reduction in the number of NK cells (natural killer cells), a lymphocyte which is responsible for the defense against virus-infected cells. As a result, the body is considerably weakened and more susceptible to further infections, which is why it is generally not advisable to stress the body with exercise, and therefore also with EMS training, when ill (Baum & Liesen, 1998).

EMS electrodes cannot be placed on or near injuries to the skin; this includes surgeries involving open or sutured wounds. Less serious outpatient procedures, such as the removal of warts, are not affected. Additionally, it is not recommended to perform any kind of exercise until the wound has closed completely and no longer needs stitches. Furthermore, the original reasons for the operation should be completely resolved and the injury fully recovered. As a rule, the client must consult with their physician before training.

In arteriosclerosis, there are pathological deposits of blood lipids (plaques) on the inner wall of arterial blood vessels, whereby the affected muscles and organs are not adequately supplied with blood. The resulting plaques can break loose, causing blood clots and completely closing the affected artery, which, for example, can lead to a heart attack or stroke (De Marées, 2003). Since the effects of EMS training on arteriosclerotic diseases have not yet been sufficiently researched, and because the disease can be life-threatening, EMS training is not permissible given the clinical symptoms presented here.

In the case of stents and bypasses, heart surgery is a massive interference on the human body. Especially during the rehabilitation phase, it is important to reintroduce physical stress gradually and to avoid intensive training. The German Heart Foundation recommends light endurance training in the form of fast walking or participating in a cardiac-sports group. EMS training, however, is a high-intensity exercise, which leads to high levels of stress on the body. For this reason, EMS should absolutely be avoided during the first six months of postoperative rehabilitation after the procedure, and introduced only after sufficient recovery has occurred and after obtaining medical clearance (Albrecht & Mooren, 2018).

High blood pressure (arterial hypertension) is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide and is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Most notably, the risk of stroke increases steadily with an increase in blood pressure. Arterial hypertension is also associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction and/or renal insufficiency (Reimers & Völker, 2018). Treated and managed, high blood pressure does not affect the ability to exercise. Untreated high blood pressure, on the other hand, must be cleared by a physician to avoid the possible consequences listed above and precludes athletic training of any kind (Predel, 2007), including EMS training.

Diabetes Mellitus generally refers to a carbohydrate metabolism disorder and occurs in a variety of forms, including the distinction between type I diabetes (absolute insulin deficiency), type II diabetes (insulin resistance, and varying insulin availability) and other specific forms of diabetes (due to medication, Endocrinopathies etc.). Depending on the form of the diabetic disease, adequate exercise can have a positive influence on the course of the disease and can also function preventatively. However, EMS training is physically demanding and creates a very high stress situation on the body due to the simultaneous stimulation of many large muscle groups at both the cellular and muscular level. The exact impact of this intense stress on the body of a person suffering from diabetes is currently still insufficiently studied, which is why EMS training is not permissible (Mooren & Knapp, 2018).

For general physical training during and after pregnancy, there are documented guidelines, training recommendations, and contraindicators (see Sulprizio & Kleinert, 2016). In contrast, for EMS training during or after pregnancy there is no research and thus no scientifically conclusive statements can be made. With consideration for the potential risks, EMS training is therefore not permissible during or immediately after pregnancy.
Additionally, there is currently no definitive answer as to whether EMS training can be carried out in the immediate postpregnancy phase as an alternative to traditional general exercise, and should therefore only occur after medical consultation. Because of the stress on the abdominal muscles due to the stimulus penetration of EMS training, resulting negative effects, like recti diastasis, cannot be ruled out.

Cardiac pacemakers and electrical implants control heart activity by means of a sensor, usually in the form of electrodes in the heart chamber or in direct contact with the heart muscle. Depending on the presenting symptoms, the sensor will register heart dysfunction and initiate the necessary countermeasures (e.g. send an electrical impulse to halt ventricular fibrillation or an additional electrical impulse for a slow cardiac rhythm). EMS training works with pulses of various frequencies, as well as with pulses of different depths and intensities. At present, there has been no manufacturer's information about the possible interference with electrical implants from the applied EMS impulses. For this reason, a negative reaction cannot be ruled out and, in the worst case, can be life-threatening, which is why EMS training of any kind is forbidden.

Cardiac arrhythmias do not automatically preclude exercise in a mild, conventional form. The German Society of Cardiology has concluded that in general, after the patient undergoes intensive examination by their attending physician and receives clearance, exercise under careful supervision (e.g. in a cardiac sports group) and with appropriate intensity has a health-promoting effect. However, this is also dependent on the exact nature of the disease, since cardiac arrhythmia disorders can have both physiologically and pathologically different presentations. There are no evidence-based statements on training for cardiac arrhythmia in high-intensity EMS training, and therefore training has been ruled out due to the potentially life-threatening consequences (Hordern et al., 2012, Perry & Gallen, 2009).

Athletic training, even high-intensity strength training, is specifically recommended for tumors and cancers (Dimeo & Thiel, 2008). For high-intensity EMS training, however, no evidence-based statements have yet been made on stress management and on its preventive or therapeutic effects. For this reason, EMS training in the acute treatment phase of cancer or tumors is precluded for safety reasons. In cancer aftercare, specifically after the completion of the acute therapy phase, EMS training can be considered after prior medical consultation regarding intensity and pulse tolerability (relative contraindication).

The relationship between and effects of EMS training on hemophilia or other bleeding disorders are still completely unresearched. Although there are early results showing enhancement of the femoral musculature through EMS in patients with bleeding disorders, the authors have only dealt with an isolated muscle group under laboratory conditions with constant supervision by trained personnel. The impact of EMS training on the clinical illness is still unknown. Therefore, EMS training has been ruled out because of the high risks associated to the client (Querol, Gallach, Toca-Herrera, Gomis, & Gonzales, 2006).

During EMS training, the muscles under the electrode are stimulated by an externally applied electrical stimulus. Here, the nerve fibers are reached, which further process the incoming signal and forward the signal to the muscle for contraction. Especially with regard to epileptic diseases, this process could be extremely dangerous due to the fact that the preexisting hyperactivity of the nerve cells (hyperexcitability) can increase and cause or exacerbate epileptic seizures. Furthermore, there is no clear evidence showing that either endurance or strength training improves neurological conditions. Due to the lack of evidence on the relationships between EMS training and neuronal diseases, epilepsy or other similar disorders, EMS training is not permissible.

An abdominal wall or inguinal hernia is a localized, acute, and serious injury in the abdominal region. Physical exertion, like compressive loads, involving the wound can exacerbate the injury and be accompanied by greater protrusion of or injury to the internal organs. For this reason, a medical condition such as this must be treated promptly by a specialist and fundamentally precludes physical training of any kind, especially high-intensity EMS training.

General athletic training under the influence of alcohol, drugs, psychotropic drugs or other intoxicants in various dosages and strengths is advised against due to possible risk and bodily harm. Therefore, EMS training, as a form of athletic training, is not permissible.

EMS clearly falls under the category of strength training. Regarding the overall effectiveness of EMS training compared to conventional strength training methods, a comparison with HIT protocol, i.e. a training session up to the trainee’s maximum muscular load threshold, showed comparable results for an increase in muscle mass, a reduction in body fat, and an increase in the strength of the core muscles, but did not perform quite as strongly in leg-strength data. However, in all cases, the time required to achieve these results with EMS was only half as long.

No, certainly not. In fact, the opposite is true. The trainee may perceive EMS training as requiring minimal effort; however, this effect during EMS training is due to the lack of neuronal inhibitors – which, among other things, are responsible for providing feedback on muscle fatigue. Thus, there is actually a danger of supramaximal stimulation and overexertion. This applies to both newcomers and competitive athletes. Therefore, training must be conducted with close interaction between the trainer and trainee in order to discover the optimal maximum-stimulation intensity for each individual. The high percentage of recruited muscle mass, combined with the level of stimulus intensity, determine the degree of the stress during the EMS training. Training should certainly be perceived as "strenuous", but the trainer should also exercise particular caution with less athletically inclined EMS users as they may have correspondingly weaker perception and self-awareness of stress. The introduction to a reasonably high load is the core "challenge" for the trainer and is highly individual for each trainee.

EMS is an effective and safe form of training if used correctly and under direct supervision. However, it should also be very clear that abusing or misusing EMS can trigger unwanted and potentially serious side effects. In fact, from a metabolic and musculoskeletal point of view, EMS is even more safe than conventional strength training on equipment when used appropriately, i.e. when all contraindications are taken into consideration, and training occurs after appropriate preparation and in accordance with the scientific regulations and guidelines for the safe use of EMS (Kemmler, Fröhlich, von Stengel, & Kleinöder, 2016; Kemmler, Kleinöder, Fröhlich, Müller, & Vatter, 2016 ).

Read more: https://www.newsystems.us/science/guidelines-for-optimum-application-of-whole-body-ems-safety-first/

Taking into account the fact that all muscle groups are addressed almost simultaneously with EMS, a training duration of 20 min / session is absolutely sufficient if an appropriately intense EMS application is implemented. Much longer sessions and a higher frequency of training can contribute to overloading. Regarding the training frequency, creatine kinase or myoglobin values as measures of muscular strain usually reach their highest levels only on the fourth day after EMS training; training at this time is therefore premature and can lead to an accumulation of muscular fatigue. One training session per week is therefore sufficient. With respect to the supercompensation theory, it is essential for athletes, as well as for beginners with little athletic experience, to give the body sufficient time to regenerate after EMS training and before the next physical stress / training session (this does not necessarily have to be EMS training).EMS is an effective and safe form of training if used correctly and under direct supervision. However, it should also be very clear that abusing or misusing EMS can trigger unwanted and potentially serious side effects. In fact, from a metabolic and musculoskeletal point of view, EMS is even more safe than conventional strength training on equipment when used appropriately, i.e. when all contraindications are taken into consideration, and training occurs after appropriate preparation and in accordance with the scientific regulations and guidelines for the safe use of EMS (Kemmler, Fröhlich, von Stengel, & Kleinöder, 2016; Kemmler, Kleinöder, Fröhlich, Müller, & Vatter, 2016 ).

Effectiveness and safety of the application always come first. The close and trusted interaction between trainer and trainee to generate the most optimal stimulus level is the central feature of successful training; in fact, the communication between trainer and trainee is even more important than in other forms of training. For this reason, a maximum of 2 trainees per trainer are the critical limit. Even a skilled and experienced user should not train without supervision. In addition, the trainer should be adequately qualified with a sports science background in the use of the appropriate training principles, such as load variations, cyclization and periodization of training, and to ensure long-term success, such as the ability to address changing training goals. In terms of safety, guidelines have been issued which address crucial aspects such as proper preparation and follow-up of EMS training, requirements for intensity control / load, and above all, the requirement of close supervision by a well-trained instructor.

Read more: https://www.newsystems.us/science/guidelines-for-optimum-application-of-whole-body-ems-safety-first/

Yes, definitely – but only moderate weight loss, which is coincidentally also more sustainable. Unfortunately, the scale at home provides little evidence for this because the reduction of body fat is almost always compensated by an increase in muscle mass. This effect is similar to intensive strength training.

In contrast, isolated endurance training or energy-restrictive diets report a reduction in muscle and fat mass in the ratio of 1-4 and 1-3, respectively. With this in mind, it is very important that weight management via energy restriction or endurance sports include a muscle-preserving component. In this case, EMS is certainly a time-effective option that should ideally be combined with compensatory protein intake. The increase in muscle mass with a simultaneous reduction in bodyfat mass is thus a central feature of the EMS training.

Looking at the pathways through which EMS burns calories, the relevant weight-loss mechanism comes more from the increase of the basal metabolism (and possibly the metabolic activation) that is associated with increased muscle mass, rather than as a result of the training volume or the acute stress load during EMS training. Additionally, this mechanism is aided by the relatively high “afterburn effect” which is a result of the necessary regeneration and adaptation effects after EMS training.

Like any muscle, the heart muscle also contracts as electrical signals depolarize muscle fibers over a certain threshold. In this way, the heart is brought to rhythmic contraction via the autonomic cardiac conduction system. In principle, therefore, the heart muscle can also be influenced or disturbed by external currents, as can be the case during electrocution accidents or resuscitation with a defibrillator. In contrast to a power outlet or a defibrillator, which generate very high voltages and currents and result in a current that flows through the whole body, EMS training lowers the current and limits the current flow to regional application. This is sufficient because activating the skeletal muscles requires only extremely low currents. The main effect of electromyostimulation with low-frequency currents is the activation of the small motor nerve branches near the electrodes. If these are depolarized by the external current above a certain threshold, the nerves create an action potential, which continues automatically in the direction of muscle fibers and activates them. The fact that the external current "uses" the body's own physiological excitation, means that the muscles are also activated at a greater depth and stimulated into a strong contraction. However, there is no relevant current flow outside the skeletal muscles through the chest to the heart.
In addition, there are several safety precautions with the miha bodytec device, which allow a current flow only between exactly defined pairs of electrodes. Therefore, current flow between the electrodes on the upper back and the breast electrodes - which are in the application area of ??the heart - is not possible.

Cardiac arrhythmias, and especially pacemakers, are absolute contraindications that should be strictly adhered to for safety reasons.

In the presence or occurrence of any absolute contraindications, EMS training must not be carried out due to the potential risk and possible injury. Accordingly, EMS training would be associated with excessive risks, and therefore, with consideration for due diligence, should not be performed.

Functional Training is often presented as the exact opposite of EMS training because it focuses on exercises with complex movements across multiple articulations and muscle groups, whereas with EMS, there is the continued association of a static application and non-functionality. Now, modern EMS is rarely applied statically and is instead predominantly dynamic. During EMS training, preference is given to movements across several joints, with large amplitudes whenever possible, that are relevant to everyday life. In order to generate the necessary super-threshold intensity, Functional Training must utilize different additional loads, whereas in EMS training, the intensity is primarily regulated via the current impulse. The latter aspect contributes to more favorable orthopedic compatibility and less risk of injury from EMS, especially for beginners and the less athletically inclined. Ultimately, both training methods are certainly effective, but remain different in their ideology and are somewhat incompatible. EMS is especially favorable when taking into consideration aspects such as a small time-budget, the health-orientation / health-limitations of a client, and/or low affinity for conventional training, and adds to that, the ability to very precisely control the training intensity.

Light physical exercises are sufficient in fitness- and health-oriented EMS training; Complex and intensive (body) exercise forms with EMS should be reserved for competitive athletes.

With the few exceptions of high-performance athletes, this option is not appropriate, and in extreme cases, is even counterproductive. The core component of EMS training is the effect of the current application on the muscles. In order to achieve the most effective training possible, an optimal stimulus intensity, meaning an impulse of appropriate strength, must be generated. This requires a close and continuous interaction between trainer and trainee. That is, the trainer should primarily handle the intensity controls, and likewise, the participant must be able to correctly report the intensity of the current application. Very complex physical exercises and/or additional weights are counterproductive to this process, since the participant would struggle to correctly assess the intensity of the applied stimulus.
Particularly with regard to body self-awareness, less experienced people such as newcomers to sport or older people will reach their limits with even simple exercises and will have to be corrected by the trainer in order to maintain correct quality of movement. Complex exercises on equipment and with additional weights only adds the risk of injury.