A guide to electro-muscle stimulation technology

Electro-muscle stimulation (EMS) has been revived from its heyday through the 80s and 90s, where the technology was applied to heavy “belts” fixed with Velcro designed to tone the wearer’s abdominal muscles, with purported effects comparable to an intense ab workout.

Now, leading manufacturers of non-invasive body-contouring devices have adopted and enhanced the basic concept of EMS to offer patients truly impressive results with no downtime and minimal to no discomfort during treatment.

A 2016 study that sought to compare the effects of 16 weeks’ whole-body EMS with high-intensity resistance exercise on body composition and strength observed “comparable or at least similar increases of muscle parameters” between the methods. The study’s authors concluded that EMS can be considered a time-efficient and effective option for people seeking to improve body composition.

Here’s what some of the aesthetic devices brands and distributors have to offer when it comes to EMS.

3D-Lipo Powersculpt

• Uses high-intensity focused electro-magnetic technology
• Seven different waveforms
• Engages 100% of muscle fibre
• One 30-minute treatment equivalent to 20,000 crunches or squats
• No exercise required during treatment course, though patients advised to maintain a healthy lifestyle with aerobic or cardiovascular exercise
• Treats arms, upper and lower abdomen, buttocks, legs and inner thighs
• Can be used as a standalone treatment or to accelerate results of other body-contouring devices.

Advanced Esthetics Solutions Lipofirm Series

• Includes the Lipofirm Pro, Lipofirm Med and Lipofirm Med+
• Manufactured by Pollogen
• Devices use dynamic muscle activation (DMA) blended with
tripollar radiofrequency for TriLipo technology
• Indicated for circumference reduction, cellulite reduction,
lymphatic drainage and skin tightening
• DMA targets different layers of muscles with electrical current
applied directly through non-invasive electrodes, allowing intervals
of stimulation and relaxation for effectively elevated muscle
workload
• Strength, duration and number of contractions can be controlled
• Achieves increase in muscle density and volume

BTL EMSCULPT

• FDA-cleared
• Uses BTL’s patented HIFEM technology
• Developed after technology was shown to have positive results for muscle regeneration among sports players
• Useshigh-intensity focused electro-magnetic technology to induce supramaximal muscle contractions, building muscle and burning fat
• Treats abdomen, buttocks, biceps, triceps and calves
• Average minimum of four 20 or 30-minute sessions spaced two to three days apart.

Cutera Trusculpt Flex

• Works with multi-directional stimulation (MDS)
• Can create personalised treatments based on patients’ individual goals, shape and fitness level
• Three treatment modes – prep, tone and sculpt – that replicate intensified twisting, squat and crunch actions
• Builds muscle endurance, increases core strength and boosts basal metabolic rate
• Can treat eight areas simultaneously.

Cynosure Stimsure

• Builds tone and muscle in the abdomen, buttocks and thighs
• Delivers up to 24,000 muscle contractions in 20 to 30 minutes
• Uses 1.0 Tesla per applicator, creating an electromagnetic field that can engage the entire target muscle group
• Four pre-set programmes
• Patients can be treated through light clothing.

EMSLIM

• Distributed by Harley Technologies and manufactured by Dae Yang Medical
• Uses high intensity electro-magnetic therapy (HI-EMT)
• Uses a specific range of frequencies that doesn’t allow muscles to relax between two consecutive stimulations
• Assisted by a physical training programme specially designed to maximise treatment stimulation
• Utilises an optimised water-cooling system to ensure the device can be used effectively for a long period of time.

HD Aesthetics Cryotone

• Combines non-suction cryolipolysis with electrical muscle stimulation
• Ideal for patients with small amounts of surface-layer fat
• Fat cells located near the skin’s surface are frozen to approx. -5°C
• Can be purchased with two or four pads that deliver both technologies simultaneously
• Patients require a course of at least eight sessions spaced once or twice a week for maximum treatment benefits
• Can also be purchased with shockwave technology to treat loose skin and reduce cellulite.

Inmode Evolve

• Hands-free workstation
• Treats adipose tissue, tones muscles and remodels skin
• Uses bipolar technology to deliver radiofrequency energy and electromagnetic pulses
• Treatments can be customised with three pre-set programmes – tite, trim and tone
• Multiple hands-free applicators and adjustable belts to maximise clinician’s time – eight for skin remodelling with radiofrequency, six for radiofrequency and tissue vacuum, four for EMS
• Refines appearance and strength of targets muscle groups.

TESLAFormer

• Uses FMS (functional magnetic stimulation)
• More than 50.000 contractions in 30 minutes
• 3 Tesla power
• Approximately 200 dedicated programmes for aesthetics, gynaecology, urology, andrology and physical therapy and pain management
• Constant change of waveforms, frequencies and contraction types
• Core therapy programme – two applicators on the abs, one for pelvic and one for the back to strengthen and shape the core muscles for better physique and posture
• TESLAChair also available for incontinence, with two built-in applicators 

References

1. Kemmler, W., Teschler, M., Weißenfels, A., Bebenek, M., Fröhlich, M., Kohl, M., von Stengel, S. (2016) “Effects of Whole-Body Electromyostimulation versus High-Intensity Resistance Exercise on Body Composition and Strength: A Randomized Controlled Study”, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2016 (Feb 29)