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Answer:
To answer that
question, let's start with a little background
information on what this equipment was originally
designed for.
Electric ab stimulators
were (and still are) used in medical rehab situations.
They are designed to keep muscles from atrophying
(wasting away) in situations where a limb must
be immobilized. For example, if you broke your
leg, the doctor could place an electrode on
the muscle and use electricity to make it contract.
This would provide a minimum level of stimulation,
thus keeping the muscle active.
As far as building
muscle, such as the ads on TV claim, this is
not backed up by research. The level of electrical
stimulation necessary to build up the abdominal
muscles to what you see on TV would be extremely
high, and thus very painful.
Many companies
that sell these belts also claim that the belts
help burn fat. In reality, the small muscle
contractions produced by these belts burn about
as many calories as the effort required to take
the belt out of the box and put the batteries
in.
If you read the
fine print in these ads, you will also notice
that the instructions for use also include a
suggested exercise and nutrition plan. This,
without a doubt, would be the true source of
the results people get from this equipment.
But what about
people you may know who have tried the belts
and say that they feel something when they use
it?
Let's put it this
way... the belt does provide a small level of
stimulation to the abdominal muscles. When a
person's abs are totally lacking any form of
stimulation, any amount of stimulation has the
potential to produce results. It is simply a
matter of something is better than nothing (in
this case, not a whole lot better, though).
A much better
solution for working your abdominal muscles
effectively is to do the unglamorous crunch
exercise. It may not send electric shocks into
your guts but it will get the job done. Crunches,
even done properly and regularly, won't burn
fat but they will definitely tighten up your
abs.
Do electric ab
stimulators work? In a nutshell, no. These companies
are simply preying upon society's desire for
results without effort. Don't be fooled by the
hype.
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