Electrocute yourself for a better you

The author going beyond the call of duty

(Credit: CNET Networks)

The Compex Sport is one of the scariest, but also most oddly compelling, devices I've ever tried.

The device sends electrical shocks, via electrodes attached to your body, to nerves. Your nerves then stimulate specific muscle groups. As a result, when you work out with the Compex, nearly 100 percent of the muscle fibers get into the act. Ordinarily, you might only use 50 percent, said Heiko Van Vliet, a European marketing manager for Compex and a coach/trainer who works with the CSC bicycling team and the Norwegian national skating team.

Thus, by using it, you can bring long dormant muscle back to life, and run faster, swim longer or get your bike up hill quicker than in the past. Olympic athletes use it to train. Now consumers in the U.S. can snap one up for $899.

But man, does it hurt. I did a set of seven 7-second intervals on the "resistance" setting and seven 4-second intervals on the "explosive strength" setting. That's 1 minute, 17 seconds of exercise. I was panting and sweating. And when the electricity was going through my muscles, it felt like my legs were in a vise.

See the video. Those howls of pain are real. (Weirdly, once the current stops, you feel and act completely normal, which is probably the way shock therapy patients feel.)

Did it work my muscles? Yes. I'd never seen my legs flex like that before. But I've also been sore for three days. It feels like I went five rounds in the ring with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

So my advice? Try it, but go slow.

[michaelportent]

Think of the Savings!!!

It's way less time consuming and painful than therapy. =D

[Jan_Raas]

All this, but much, much more ...

I ran across this tool some years ago at a bicycle trade show ... not only can it be used as MK did (to stimulate more muscles harder than one might normally), but also as a recovery tool (yes, I know that sounds odd) after hard workouts ... it is pricey, as are the consumables, but the results are worthwhile if you're at that certain (athletic) level or have special needs (i.e., recovery from injury or exercise whilst otherwise immobilized). Anyhow, thanks for the post, and the video!

[gciriani]

Actually if you use it correctly you are not supposed to feel pain. Mike Kanellos was not instructed properly. There are units out there that are for elite athletes, see this other video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mM6IBtkeuw
Giovanni Ciriani - Globus Sport and Health Technologies

[gciriani]

Actually if you use it correctly you are not supposed to feel pain. Mike Kanellos was not instructed properly. There are units out there that are for elite athletes, see this other video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mM6IBtkeuw
Giovanni Ciriani - Globus Sport and Health Technologies

[Muscle_Stilmulator]

I had heard that a lot of the 2008 US Olympians had been using the the Compex Muscle Stimulator and as a triathlete I thought I'd get one and see what improvements I'd see in my training. I've been using it religiously for the last 4 months and this device is amazing. I've reduced all my times and find myself able to train harder the next day. The active recovery clears out the lactic acid and prevents soreness. I recently read that Jason Lezak used as he coached himself (amazing) to gold in China. He apparantly relied on this device and found it more effective that his regular cool downs. The way he swam on that final leg of the 4 x 100 it pretty apparant he worked for him. These are widely available in Europe as it's part their normal practice over there and Compex is starting to break into the US Market. There www.compex.us site links to http://www.betterbraces.com/ViewProducts/CompexSportMuscleStimulator/1023.aspx when you can now buy direct. It's pricey but if you want to shave minutes off your times and feel better along the way pick one up.