In the world of fitness, Electric Muscle Stimulation, or EMS, has grown in popularity very quickly. It works by contracting muscles by sending tiny electrical impulses. Athletes and fitness enthusiasts utilize electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) frequently to improve their performance, build muscle strength, and speed up the healing process after exercises. EMS was first used in rehabilitation to help with the recovery of muscles. EMS provides another level to your workout routine by helping in the activation of muscles that might not be fully engaged during regular exercises.
Exercises can be made much more effective by combining EMS with functional fitness training, which focuses on movements we perform on a regular basis. The goals of functional fitness workouts are to improve your endurance, balance, and core strength. EMS allows you to focus and activate muscles more thoroughly when used along with these movements, resulting in greater strength gains, increased endurance, and fast recovery.
You will discover how to combine functional exercise with EMS for the best results in this blog. In order to maximize the effects of EMS and improve your general fitness, we will provide you with guidelines on how to make use of it before, during, and after a workout.
What Is Electric Muscle Stimulation (EMS)?
Small electrical impulses are used in the Electric Muscle Stimulation (EMS) technique to activate the muscles to contract. Similar to how your brain transmits impulses when you exercise, electrodes are applied to the skin over particular muscles, and the equipment sends signals that result in the muscles contracting. In this way, EMS increases muscular activation even during times of no activity, which can enhance the strength of muscles, tone, and healing. EMS was first applied in medical facilities to improve muscle strength in individuals who had become weaker over time and help in their recovery from surgeries or injuries.
With time, EMS has gained popularity in the fitness and sports training industries, where individuals use it to improve their workouts. These days, several kinds of EMS equipment are available for personal use, ranging from simple models to more advanced devices used in gyms. Typically, these devices have sticky electrode pads that you can attach to various body parts. You may adjust the electrical impulse intensity using these pads to suit your needs, be it increasing muscle strength or speeding up the recovery process after a workout.
What Is Functional Fitness?
Exercise that concentrates on activities you do on a daily basis is called functional fitness. Exercises for functional fitness train multiple muscles to work together with one another rather than focusing on a single muscle at a time, making it easier to perform tasks such as lifting, pushing, bending, and pulling. These exercises are meant to enhance your general strength, coordination, and balance in a manner that facilitates your daily tasks. These workouts often use your body weight, free weights, or resistance bands.
Improving your posture, flexibility, and overall strength is one of the main advantages of functional fitness, as it can make everyday tasks safer and simpler. Additionally, it strengthens your core muscles, which is necessary for better movement and posture. Functional fitness helps you develop greater strength by training your body how to move more effectively. It also means that routine activities like grocery shopping, playing with your children, and climbing stairs get easier to perform and less tiring. Functional fitness is an outstanding way to develop a strong, capable body that functions better in everyday situations, regardless of your current level of fitness.
Benefits Of Combining EMS With Functional Fitness
Some of the benefits of combining EMS with functional fitness are mentioned below:
1: Improved Strength And Endurance: Adding EMS to your functional fitness routine can help you gain muscle strength and increase your endurance more quickly. Your muscles gain strength faster because the electrical impulses from EMS force them to work harder during exercises. This can eventually result in visible improvements in your capacity to lift weight and your stamina. It’s an excellent method to put your muscles to the test and enhance the improvements you make in endurance and strength.
2: Enhanced Muscle Activation: Using Electric Muscle Stimulation (EMS) along with functional fitness has several benefits, one of which is that it allows you to activate your muscles more effectively. Your muscles contract with greater force with EMS than they would naturally because it delivers tiny electrical impulses to them. This facilitates the activation of additional muscle fibers, especially deeper ones that might not be used during regular activity. Thus, EMS makes sure that all of your muscles are engaged fully during exercises like push-ups, squats, and lunges, which improves the effectiveness of your workouts.
3: Better Performance: One other advantage of merging EMS with functional fitness is that it lets you focus on particular muscle areas that require more care. You can strengthen weak areas, correct muscular imbalances, and ensure that each part of your body is operating at peak efficiency with this focused approach. Working on these particular muscles can help you perform better overall in functional activities, which will eventually improve your physical ability and provide greater results.
4: Increased Recovery Speed: By increasing blood circulation to the areas of your muscles that require it most, using EMS after your workout helps speed up the recovery process. Your muscles receive more oxygen and nutrients from the increased circulation, which helps reduce pain and swelling. EMS helps you heal more quickly so you can get back to training sooner and with less time off. Your muscles will heal more quickly if you incorporate EMS into your post-exercise routine, keeping you prepared for your next workout.
How To Use EMS In Functional Fitness Training
Adding Electric Muscle Stimulation (EMS) into your functional fitness routine will improve strength, muscular activation, and recovery. Mentioned below are some suggestions for maximizing the benefits of EMS before, during, and after exercise.
- Before Your Workout: Your muscles will be better prepared for the exercises ahead if you use Electric Muscle Stimulation (EMS) before your workout. Place the pads on your thighs, hamstrings, and abdomen to begin your EMS warm-up. To gently exercise your muscles with electrical impulses, set the equipment to a low intensity. This reduces the possibility of injury by increasing blood flow and increasing muscle elasticity. By using EMS to warm up, you can also help loosen up tight muscles and get ready for exercises like lunges, squats, and push-ups.
- During Your Workout: You can also use EMS while doing your functional fitness exercises to make them more effective. You can use the EMS pads on the muscles you are targeting, such as your arms, chest, or thighs when performing exercises like push-ups, squats, or lunges. Adjust the intensity of the device to medium so that it will stimulate your muscles while you perform the exercises. Your muscles have to work harder as a result, which helps you use more of your muscle tissue. You can get more out of your workouts and increase muscle activation by using EMS, which will improve your strength and endurance.
- Post-Workout Recovery: EMS can speed up the recovery of your muscles after an exercise. Muscle stiffness can be reduced and blood flow can be improved by applying EMS to the painful or tight areas. For approximately 10 to 20 minutes, apply a low-intensity EMS treatment to the muscles that require recovery. By doing this, you will feel better and begin exercising sooner by reducing tension, relieving tightness in your muscles, and speeding up the healing process. After working out, using EMS is a terrific technique to promote faster and more effective bodily recovery.
- Frequency And Duration: For new individuals, it’s a good idea to start with 2 to 3 sessions each week when it comes to EMS use. 15 to 30 minutes should be spent for each session, depending on whether you use it before, during, or after your workout. You can adjust how long and how frequently you use EMS depending on your goals for fitness as your body adjusts to it over time. You can achieve better outcomes using EMS without going extreme if you remain constant with it.
Tips For Getting The Most Out Of EMS And Functional Fitness
Here are some simple tips to help you make the most out of EMS and functional fitness:
- Progress Gradually: Start slowly when using EMS for the first time. To allow your muscles to get used to the stimulus, start with shorter sessions at a lower intensity. As your body adjusts, gradually increase the length and intensity of your sessions. By building strength gradually, you can avoid excessive stretching of your muscles and increase your strength safely.
- Focus On Proper Form And Technique: Make sure you use the correct technique while using EMS with your functional fitness activities for the best results. This involves using proper posture and controlled movements when performing each workout. In order to ensure that you fully benefit from the exercises and the EMS, proper technique allows you to target the right muscles and reduces the risk of injury.
- Listen To Your Body: It should be difficult but not painful to use EMS. Observe your body’s response and adjust the level of intensity if something is too strong or uncomfortable. The goal of this technique is to make your workouts better without making you feel uncomfortable. You can have a more comfortable and successful workout experience by paying attention to your body and making adjustments that are required.
Common Mistakes To Avoid When Using EMS With Functional Fitness
Electric muscle stimulation (EMS) combined with functional fitness can be quite beneficial, but there are a few common mistakes to watch out for. Here are some factors you should watch out for to ensure that your EMS workouts are giving you the most favorable outcomes possible.
- Overusing Or Misusing EMS During Training: When using Electric Muscle Stimulation (EMS), overuse or misuse are common mistakes people make. Your muscles might get tired or uncomfortable if you use EMS excessively or at a high intensity. To ensure that EMS improves your training without interfering with it, follow the guidelines provided for both the duration and intensity of use.
- Ignoring Recovery Time And Overloading Muscles: Not giving your muscles sufficient time for recovery is another mistake. Your muscles require recovery time after a workout in order to strengthen and recover. When EMS is used too frequently without enough rest, your muscles may become stressed out, which can cause discomfort or even injury. To maintain the efficacy and safety of your training, allow your muscles to rest in between EMS sessions and stick to a proper recovery routine.
- Not Pairing EMS With Functional Movements Correctly: Combining EMS with the appropriate exercises is also important. The effectiveness of it could be reduced if EMS is applied without attention to the proper movements. To target the muscles you wish to work on, make sure to use EMS during your workouts. When performing squats or push-ups, for example, apply EMS to your arms and thighs. As a result, EMS increases the effectiveness of your workouts by strengthening the muscles that you are actively focusing on.
Conclusion
By increasing the activation of muscles, enhancing power, and speeding up recovery, Electric Muscle Stimulation (EMS), when used with functional fitness, can significantly improve your workouts. Make sure you use EMS correctly to gain the most benefit possible from it. Warm up your muscles before beginning any exercise, include EMS during the workout, and give your body time to recover afterward. To get the most out of your EMS-enhanced exercise routine, start carefully, pay attention to the way your body feels, and make any necessary modifications.
We at SilaFit are aware that every person has different needs when it comes to fitness. Our skilled trainers are committed to creating customized courses that reflect your specific goals. We provide you the freedom to train wherever it’s most convenient for you, so EMS can easily fit into your busy schedule. Get in contact with us right now if you are prepared to begin using EMS to achieve your fitness objectives. Contact [email protected] or give us a call at 240-744-7634. We are excited to help you on your fitness journey and provide constant support.