FAQ

Q          How does Electro Muscle Stimulation (EMS) work?

A          Your body stimulates muscles naturally by sending bio-electrical pulses down the spinal cord and into your nerve fibres. Muscles need this stimulation to move.  Electro Muscle Stimulation (EMS) is an amplification of the body’s own electrical pulses. The extra stimulus causes your muscles to contract more and work harder. Combining EMS with exercise is a targeted way of improving the effects of your workout. Deep muscles are stimulated far more effectively than through conventional exercise alone, making every move stronger and delivering visible improvements faster.

Q            What is a full body workout?

A          At TFM we configure a wide range of training parameters to suit your individual needs. However, an important difference to other forms of exercise is that we are able to activate ALL of the muscle groups simultaneously. This makes your individually designed TFM workout much more time-efficient than conventional strength training or gym sessions, which typically only work a few muscle groups at a time.   EMS training also has a quick and deep-acting tightening effect on all the core muscle groups. That means you can achieve the same strengthening of low-lying muscle fibres that we’d normally associate with Yoga or Pilates exercise.

Q            Can EMS training help me lose weight?

A             Training at an EMS studio like TFM you’ll burn up to 500 calories each time you train, compared to an average of 300 calories with conventional training.  EMS training also improves circulation and encourages a better blood supply to the tissues beside the muscles, which is the most effective way of reducing cellulite.  A person with a medium build, eating a healthy calorie controlled diet and doing one or two 20-minute EMS workouts each week can expect to reduce their body fat by around 4% in the first 6 weeks depending on the intensity level of the training programme

Q            Does it hurt?

A             No ……
The electrical current is low impulse and completely safe. Whilst the workout sessions can be intense, the actual feeling of the current is gentle and non-invasive. Our personalised training programme will tailor your routine, so you won’t be stretched beyond your personal capabilities. It is normal to feel some “Muscle Ache” a couple of days after the training session which swiftly dissipates.  One of the major advantage to EMS training is that, unlike conventional training, there is no additional strain on the joints. The electric impulses work on the muscles directly, so there is no pressure on the joints ensuring they cannot be over-worked as can often happen with weight training.

Q            Should EMS training be done on a long-term basis?

A             Regular, long-term training is just as important for EMS training as it is for conventional exercise. The performance capacity of your muscles can only be maintained if you train regularly. And, just like with conventional training, if you stop exercising for extended periods of time, your muscles will eventually return to their former state.

Q            Why is EMS so effective?

A             During a full body workout with EMS over 90% of the muscle fibres are contracted at the same time. Unlike conventional training, the deep-lying muscles are also stimulated. This improves coordination within the muscles themselves and between different muscle groups. making this form of training particularly intensive and fast. EMS is great for general muscle building but also works wonders when targeting specific areas of the body, such as the buttocks, abdomen or back.

Q            Can anyone do EMS training?

A             EMS training has been scientifically proven to be effective for people of different sexes, age groups and fitness levels. This means a performance athlete with many years of training experience can benefit as well as a person who has been physically inactive for many years. However, certain medical conditions are known to be contraindications and EMS training is not recommended in certain cases.  At TFM we insist on discussing your medical history and you having a trial session BEFORE you commit to joining.

Q            Can EMS training be used alongside other forms of training?

A             Yes…...Depending on your current level of fitness, EMS training can be used alongside other forms of training and exercise. This must be managed carefully though, so TFM will advise you on the best way to use EMS training within your current fitness regime based upon what you wish to achieve.