Body shaping with muscle stimulation programs

Sweat-free body shaping is a long-held wish. Muscle stimulation, one form of electrotherapy, can indeed help make the process easier and faster. In this article (not exhaustively) I present which body-shaping programs* are available in the Globus electrostimulator devices. I also explain what you need to do to make sure it really helps.

Body shaping and the electrostimulator

When muscles receive impulses from muscle stimulation programs they respond with contractions. Contractions triggered by the stimulator can even cause stronger muscle contractions than when you make voluntary movements, for example when exercising.

For the muscle it doesn’t matter whether the signal that activates the contraction comes from your brain or from the stimulator. In both cases exactly the same processes take place in the muscle. And if the contraction is the same, its effect will be the same.

If you stimulate your muscles regularly and persistently with muscle stimulation, the result will be the same as if you were "pumping" in the gym.

That is — with some exaggeration — you can shape your body while sitting in an armchair: muscle mass increases, the arm muscles thicken, the abs and buttocks take shape. That is absolutely possible.

However, there is a difference! And here is where the catch is… During muscle stimulation performed in an armchair

• you are not "working" with your body weight, i.e. you are not bearing your own weight. Therefore your energy expenditure is significantly lower than with, for example, traditional exercise. Do not expect meaningful weight loss from muscle stimulation alone.
• your heart function, breathing and oxygen transport capacity do not improve at all, so your general endurance will not improve.

What is body-shaping muscle stimulation good for?

A muscle stimulator is primarily a complementary tool and does not replace training!

Traditional training takes time. Traveling to the gym (there and back) also takes time. With workouts shorter than 50–60 minutes it can take half a year to a year to see visible results.

A muscle stimulator helps you shorten the time you need to spend on training. Combined with traditional exercise it provides a more effective workout, so you can achieve results in less time.

If you can't get to the gym, it is excellent: at home you can make up for missed training in 20–30 minutes instead of one and a half hours. You can even take that time after you've put the kids to bed.

If you are dieting, it speeds up muscle development; a larger muscle mass consumes more energy, so fat pads may decrease faster.

However, remember that muscle stimulation also takes time. For significant effects you must use it at least 40–50 minutes per day. That has to fit into your daily schedule. Of course you can do it while sitting at the office. The stimulator device fits in your pocket and the electrodes attached to the muscles are not visible under clothing. If your work allows it, this can also save time.

Because stimulation does not improve the heart–lung condition, include at least 1–2 cardio workouts per week.

Body-shaping programs

… before/instead of traditional training:

• Toning: Recommended mainly for people with sedentary jobs. If you don't usually exercise and have never used a stimulator, use this program for the first 2–3 weeks! The program firms the musculature and at the same time prepares it for more intensive stimulation treatments.
• Jogging: Contractions applied to the leg muscles "replace" jogging. It increases muscle capacity and aerobic endurance by improving microcirculation.
• Anaerobic training: Long and intensive stimulation that accustoms the muscles to longer efforts. Use it if until now you mostly lifted weights (or did nothing), but you want to begin longer-distance running or endurance training.

… alongside traditional training:

• Shaping: After preparing the muscles with the Toning program for 2–3 weeks, you can gradually switch to the Shaping program. This more intensive stimulation aims to accentuate the shape of the muscles. If time allows, do a Shaping session after the Toning program to speed up your progress.
• Activation: Recommended for those who already have sufficient muscle mass. It prevents the "decline" of less-used muscle bundles and improves the quality of muscle tone.
• Mass gain: Recommended for regular trainees who want to further increase their existing muscle mass. The program combines intensive contractions with short rests.
• Body sculpting: Specifically supports the hypertrophy results of gym training. It drives muscles to very intensive work, so it is important to apply it only to well-trained muscles. For example, it's excellent on days when you can't make it to the gym (you can use it at home or in the office).
• Detailing: Strengthens muscle tone while avoiding loss of mass. Specialized for the further development of already toned muscles.
• Aerobic training: Improves muscles' oxygen use. Primarily recommended for those who regularly do cardio, targeting the most used muscle groups. For runners and cyclists on the thigh muscles, for swimmers on the shoulder and upper arm muscles, and also on the latissimus dorsi.
• Cramp prevention: Improves muscle circulation and regeneration. It relaxes and reduces neuromuscular activity, thereby decreasing the occurrence of cramps.

Other beauty care programs

• Swelling reduction: Performs deep compression therapy, stimulates fluid drainage, toxin removal and lymphatic circulation. Recommended for swollen limbs and significant water retention.
• Fat reduction: Using low-frequency stimulation it has a positive effect on local metabolism and can lead to weight loss in the applied area.
• Toning massage: Dilates blood vessels. Improved circulation activates cellular processes, accelerates tissue regeneration and improves muscle circulation.
• Post-pregnancy programs: Special programs to help postnatal recovery. Recommended to start 3 months after delivery. It stimulates and strengthens the abdominal muscles.
• Face programs: Low-intensity electrical impulses stimulate and improve microcirculation of the face.
• Bust programs: Programs designed for women to lift sagging breasts by improving the tone and shape of the chest muscles.
• Skin tone improvement: Apply to areas where you want to strengthen the skin tissue (for example after rapid weight loss or after pregnancy). It works by improving microcirculation.

*Not every electrostimulator device provides all programs; program lists vary between models. It is important that when you decide to buy such a device, read the program list for that specific device to ensure it meets your goals.