Years ago, I had some traumatic accidents.  Ones I was very lucky to survive.  But, while I survived the experience, there were days when I could barely move.  My back hurt so much; more than a few times my children had to call the paramedics to get me transported to the hospital.  (I was stuck on the floor, unable to get up.)

I was provided with some pretty potent drugs.  Ones that I rarely took.  Because if I did, I wouldn’t be permitted to do anything.  (It would never have been DUI- DWI would have been more like it.)

While on one of my trips overseas, I met with a relatively new firm (non-American).  They wanted to develop a device that would mimic the effects of acupuncture, or perhaps be similar to TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation).  Either way, they wanted a device that could be sold- over the counter- to attenuate pain in the patient.

To cut a long story short, they got what they wanted.  The device employs teeny (like that scientific term?) currents (60 to 80 mA) in pulsing (2 to 10 per second  [Hertz]) for 40  to 250 ms (milliseconds).  This seems to induce the formation of ATP (adenosine triphosphate, the body’s energy supply), which permits the device block the pain at various points in the body.  When the device’s electrodes are attached to the body, one doesn’t encounter electrical shock, but little tingling (or banging) sensations.

The device seems to preclude muscular atrophy.  It certainly relaxes any muscles that may be spasmodic and improves local blood circulation. And, now (this is some 20 years later), there are lots of these devices on the market.  All of which are available with very little FDA regulation.  Because they are very careful about the claims they make.

Which brings up a new toy- the EMS or NMES (electrical muscle stimulation or neuromuscular electrical stimulation) device. This device, similar to the TENS, employs a cycle of stimulation, contraction, and then relaxation.  This device, too, augments blood flow to the region (where the electrodes are placed).  But, here, the aim of the device is to cause muscle contractions (similar to those actions when we exercise)

The NMES device operates at 25 to 50 Hz  (higher than the TENS devices).  The higher frequency moves the signal beyond the sensory nerve fibers to activate the muscles.  And, the cycle includes a ramp time (how long the device takes to reach the maximum intensity), “on” time (how long the activation occurs) and an “off” time (the resting between cycles).

Who uses such devices?  Well, it seems that a lot of professional athletes- and a slew of college athletes, as well.  And, when the athletes use them, they opt for a less scientific machine- the Accelerated Recovery Performance (ARP) design.  These ARP units are also loosely regulated by the FDA, since there are few medical claims made.

I didn’t do an extensive search, but I found only one study on the functionality of ARP exists.  So, we have to rely on anecdotal evidence (or not.)  But, since the units are being sold to athletes- and their mental edge is what keeps them going, the fact that they believe the device works may be enough to help them actually  perform better.

As for me, I’ll stick with the TENS unit- if and when I need it.  But, these ARP units, while not harmful, don’t look like they are all that helpful.

Let me know if they work for you.  Not really, because instead of a machine, I’ll stick with swimming and biking to tone up my muscles.

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