Electric Workouts

Sweat sessions using electrical impulses could be the next big thing. We reveal how they work.

- Sarah Ivory

What if we said you could reap all the rewards of an hour’s workout in just 20 minutes?

That’s exactly what experts claim an EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) training session can do. EMS technology started out as a nifty rehabilitation tool and something that astronauts used to keep fit in space. Electrodes are placed on your body and electrical impulses are sent to them to stimulate your muscles. Many elite athletes, including pro footballer Frank Lampard, are said to be fans of the rehabilitative remedy – but it has recently gained interest from those wanting to shape up fast, too! You may well have already come across EMS technology –slimming belts that promised toned tums were all the rage in the ’90s. But when Jamaican sprinter, Usain Bolt, was spotted performing crunches in an EMS suit recently, the buzz was big. Now, EMS is going through a resurgence and the gains – increased weight loss, accelerated muscle growth and the chance to get in shape faster – are worth talking about.

HOW IT WORKS