ES uses electrical current to induce muscular contractions, simulating what happens when you lift weights.
Physical therapists routinely use ES to increase the muscular strength of patients recovering from surgery or from muscle strains and tears.
But health experts still are debating the merits of ES as a fitness tool for healthy athletes and the general public.
Susan Saliba, a senior associate athletic trainer at the McCue Sports Medicine Center, routinely uses ES to treat injured athletes.
But "we don't use it to make them stronger," Saliba said.
Researchers have identified a major difference between ES-stimulated and normally stimulated muscle fiber contraction - ES targets "fast twitch" muscle fibers more effectively.
Since "fast twitch" muscle fibers have a larger diameter and lower electrical resistance than smaller "slow twitch" muscle fibers, the applied electrical current takes the path of least resistance through the "fast twitch" fibers.
According to Saliba, this causes greater muscle fatigue. In fact, researchers have reported increased muscular size and strength in subjects who have undergone ES training.
Sunil Tholpady, a University M.D./Ph.D. student, has used ES in conjunction with normal weight training since 1994.
Even though he lifts weights four to five times per week, Tholpady says he uses his ES device to augment his training because of time constraints.
Tholpady says he has gained only modest increases in strength, but has noticed greater improvement in other areas.
"I think it helps with" muscle tone, Tholpady said.
Saliba says the use of ES appears to be safe.
"There are no side effects other than fatigue," she said.
But one major caveat to using ES is that most individuals are unable to tolerate the pain associated with the electrical shock.
High levels of electrical current are required to achieve significant gains in strength, but "most people can't tolerate that much" pain, Saliba said.
Tholpady, who claims to have a high tolerance for pain, said his ES regimen "is super painful."
"It's for vain people who are lazy," he added.
Many experts agree that although ES has been shown to augment muscular strength, the process is uncomfortable and may not provide any significant advantage over traditional weight training.
Saliba said she advises against replacing traditional methods with ES to achieve fitness goals.
"There is nothing that beats diet and exercise," she said.
- Compiled by Andy Kinley
(Submit health and science questions to cavdaily@cavalierdaily.com)
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