Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Do Electronic Muscle Stimulators Work For Weight Loss, Body Building Or Physical Therapy?

Using electronic muscle stimulators for body building provides
nerve and flexor training for the muscles and seems to allow the
muscle tissue to grow at a rate comparable to simple exercise.
However, with the stimulators the body goes without the
after-pain associated with strenuous weight training exercises.
In this way the electronic muscle stimulators can help the body
building enthusiast to better control the level of pain that is
felt after a workout. Some people with problem areas such as
sore shoulder muscles can use the stimulators to help alleviate
the pain before the next session of exercising.

The same applies to anyone looking to lose weight with
electronic muscle stimulator use. While the stimulator may help
to alleviate the pain sometimes associated with weight loss
exercising, the unit itself will most likely have very little to
do with actual weight loss. However, by helping the person
control any pain associated with the exercising, the stimulator
may, in fact, help these people to exercise more. They will then
have a better chance at losing more weight.

Electronic muscle stimulators have been thoroughly proven to
help with physical therapy where nerve and muscle damage has
occurred. Many therapists highly recommend the use of these
units when their patients routinely complain of sore muscles
during and after exercise workouts, or have some form of nerve
damage that prevents them from getting the most out of life.

The effective use of these electronic muscle stimulators
depends a lot on the type of patient and the nerve or muscle
damage they may be suffering from. In general use, the
stimulator units can be used easily by the patients themselves
after only a few minutes of training. In this way, the patients
control the amount of voltage used and the rhythm cycle that
controls the rate of muscle contractions. Many health spas and
gyms have electronic muscle stimulators on hand to help
alleviate any sudden pain or muscle spasms that their customers
may have while exercising. It's fairly easy to become adept at
using these units and many people swear by the relief that these
units give them from their muscle and nerve pain.

Many manufacturers of these electronic muscle stimulators are
quick to point out the safety and value of their products when
it comes to weight loss or muscle building. How would a company
stay in business if it didn't promote its own products? Many
federal departments have done exhaustive tests on these
electronic muscle stimulators and have found that very few of
them do anything at all in the way of weight loss. The results
from using one of these units for weight loss is comparable to
not using one at all, proving that the units are ineffective at
best. In fact, they may end up being harmful if overused to
stimulate out-of-shape muscle and fat tissue. Because the
stimulators contract the muscles, many people believe that this
motion causes the body to lose weight, but it is simply not
true.

About The Author: http://Toneamatic.com manufacturers and
distributes superior top quality electronic muscle stimulators,
unit for home use. Our systems are used by Osteopaths,
Physiotherapists, Spinal Injury Specialists, and by doctors
working on the treatment of degenerative muscle disorders.
http://www.toneamatic.com

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Water Therapy

Water exercise therapy is an especially helpful back pain remedy. The buoyancy of the water is to the advantage of the affected person as there is less pain exercising in the water than exercising on land. Professional assistance from a licensed physical therapist is often required before you can perform any of the complicated exercise maneuvers involved.

On the other hand, hydrotherapy is a back pain remedy that aims to relieve pain by loosening the muscles and ridding the body of toxins that cause pain and inflammation. Several studies have shown that soaking in a hot tub or warm bath as a form of back pain remedy will lessen stiffness, increase flexibility, and reduce the amount of pain medication used. In addition to hot baths, this back pain remedy may also include douches, sauna or steam baths, and wraps with herbal additives.

If you don't enjoy this therapy, you can always go for a massage therapy. Just check with the health centers as most of them do offer massage services for their club members.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Health Benefits of Massage

More and more Americans are turning to massage to relieve the stresses of everyday life. It is pleasant and relaxing to receive an aromatherapy massage in a quiet spa. However, massage actually can have significant health benefits beyond the simple relaxation of a basic spa massage.

Massage therapy has been proven to reduce the amounts of the stress hormone cortisol in the body. Cortisol is the hormone that causes the symptoms of stress including muscle pain, irritability, headaches and other physical symptoms. Digestion, which is often directly affected by stress, can be improved by application of regular massages.

Additionally, some scientists suspect that massage may release endorphins which produce a "high" or a sense of well-being similar to that which is achieved by exercise. Because of this effect, massage therapy has been particularly useful in helping arthritis patients who may not be able to exercise regularly. Massage can also help arthritis patients improve the range of motion in their joints.

Massage may also help improve circulation. It is theorized that the stroking motion of massage encourages healthy blood flow and assists in clearing toxins from the blood. The stroking motion may also assist the flow of lymph fluid. Lymph fluid bolsters the body's immune system, leading to increased resistance to disease.

Shiatsu massage, which uses some of the same principles as acupuncture, tai chi and other types of Chinese medicine can be used to treat more specific illnesses. Unlike a regular massage session at a spa, a shiatsu practitioner will take your medical history and ask you questions about specific symptoms, diet and exercise. Some of the conditions treated by shiatsu massage include asthma, menstrual cramps, arthritis, insomnia and constipation.

Ayurvedic massage is a 5,000 tradition of holistic healing including massage. Ayurvedic massage places emphasis on using scented oils and healing herbs to heal and relax the body. People can learn how to give themselves an Ayurvedic massage which, if performed in the morning, can increase vitality, circulation and stamina throughout the day.

Certain people should avoid all types of massage. These include people with open wounds or rashes, people with circulatory disorders, people who have had recent surgery and people with a history of blood clots. People with cancer should avoid massage following radiation or chemotherapy treatment and should avoid direct massage of any area with a tumor. Pregnant women are advised to avoid abdominal massage during the first three months of pregnancy.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles for http://4alternativehealthinfo.com/ - In addition, Jonathon also writes articles for http://universeofbeauty.net/ and http://fitness-talk.net/