FAQ -

EMS training involves various static or dynamic exercises. A functional vest with electrodes is worn. Safe electric impulses flow through these electrodes. On the one hand, this works every muscle group in the body simultaneously, and on the other hand it make the exercises far more intensive than in conventional training.
 
In principle, EMS works like an amplifier. With every movement you make in everyday life, a motor nerve is stimulated by the brain by means of bioelectrical impulses in order to give the muscles the "command" to tense (contract). The result: the muscles contract, and you can run or shake someone's hand, for example. During the 20-minute EMS whole-body training not only the brain but also our training device triggers electrical impulses. The muscle itself cannot distinguish between this externally derived contraction command and one from the brain. Thus EMS is basically an externally acting turbo of the body's own principle.

Yes. A truly impressive number of studies have clearly confirmed the effectiveness and absolute harmlessness of EMS training. Electrostimulation originated in rehabilitation therapy and has decades of tradition.

Since the middle of the last century, it has been used not only by doctors and physiotherapists but also in competitive sports. In the medical field, electronic muscle stimulation helps with back complaints and muscular imbalances. In competitive sports, athletes increase their muscle strength with EMS.

EMS training only addresses the skeletal muscles, not reaching the organ muscles or the heart. So you can train using our devices by the world market leader, miha bodytec, without any misgivings.

In general, it is important to feel fit and healthy in order to carry out EMS training. If you have an infection, cold, severe fatigue or are suffering any other physical limitations we advise against training, because otherwise you could strain yourself.

It is particularly important that you have had enough fluids before training. You should also not train on a completely empty stomach: A light meal with carbohydrates is important, so the body is provided with sufficient energy for the intensive training session. So please do not train on an empty stomach.

Shortly after the workout, we recommend consuming a readily available source of protein (such as a protein shake) – if appropriate also in combination with carbohydrates – in addition to plenty of water. This promotes optimal regeneration or muscle buildup.

The best way to describe it is as an intense vibration that works for four seconds, tensing all your muscles for you. It is and should be felt intensively, but does not hurt. The training can and should be very strenuous: you may have sore muscles in the days following EMS, a frequent occurrence, particularly for newcomers.

The advantage of EMS training is the enormous stimulation of the fast twitching muscle fibers, which are particularly involved in muscle building and generating high-speed strength. In classical strength training, these are only included towards the end of a set and only at correspondingly high intensities. This creates great stress for joints and ligaments, which does not occur during EMS training due to the lack of additional loads. This is why it is called a "gentle method", although EMS training has a more intensive effect on the muscles and can be very strenuous. EMS even allows training beyond the point of muscle failure.

The strain on the heart and circulatory apparatus is significantly lower with EMS training than with conventional strength training: While during the latter there are constant fluctuations in pulse rate and blood pressure (with blood pressure peaks of up to 300mmHg), the values with EMS training remain largely constant and relatively low.

At the same time, due to the large number of muscles involved EMS training also enables endurance levels to be improved enormously.

EMS training can be used as supplementary training for any kind of sport. Many professional athletes from different fields (e.g. football, golf, winter sports, athletics) use EMS training and can confirm its success. EMS training enhances speed, strength and endurance capacity.

Yes, it can be very strenuous and sweaty. But don't worry, although our personal trainers always help you to surpass yourself and extract the last bit of power, they don't overtax anyone. Ultimately, the customer determines where his limit lies.

Most likely, yes! Sore muscles are a possible indicator of strenuous fitness training. The intensity of the unit stimulates the muscle fibers to change structurally with the aim of building them up, i.e. strengthening them. Particularly after a purely strength-based EMS session, this effect may be very intense after the second day of training. The combination of professional guidance, motivation to complete the last of a series of repetitions during training and the highly effective deep muscular impulses make EMS the efficiency champion among all fitness workouts.

Working with the personal trainer makes the training much more effective, because he selects intensive exercises individually tailored to the trainee and motivates him to maximum performance. He also makes sure you are executing the various exercises correctly and gets you back on track if you are doing any of them slightly wrong. This makes the training not only intensive and effective but also health conducive, and minimizes possible mistakes.

No, EMS training can be carried out at any age and at any fitness level. Since the training is always individually controlled and adapted, we can respond to any circumstances and wishes. It can sometimes even be an advantage if you do not have much training experience, since you can then start training in a way that is gentle on your joints and receive a high level of support from your personal trainer.

We work exclusively with EMS devices from the market leader miha bodytec. Only miha bodytec succeeds in combining the right ingredients for a truly revolutionary device system: innovative technology combined with optimum benefit and maximum comfort. All miha bodytec devices and thus all devices at Bionic work exclusively with low-frequency current pulses (85 Hz).

In order to promote coordination skills and improve body perception (proprioception) we have included a wide variety of fitness exercises from the field of functional training in our sessions. This means that many of the Bionic exercises simulate everyday movement sequences in order to specifically train intermuscular coordination and body perception. We believe this is the only way to create holistic and target-oriented EMS training!

What's more: Studies have shown that 60% of the subjects have improved their balance capacity after EMS training.

Yes. The intensive stimulation of the active musculoskeletal system (entire skeletal muscles) in our EMS-supported functional training also leads to adaptation processes in the passive musculoskeletal system (bones, cartilage, ligaments and intervertebral discs). The pressure and tensile loads on the skeletal muscles briefly "deform" the bones. During the regeneration process, they adapt to this previous stress stimulus by building up new bone substance. In addition, many anabolic (bodybuilding) hormones such as growth hormones, testosterone, DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) and also estrogen increase, leading to improved stabilization overall and development of the passive locomotor system.

What's more: EMS training has been successfully used for many years in the prevention of osteoporosis (bone loss).

Most people feel a difference after their first workout. Changes become visible after a few weeks of training – this depends entirely on the person training. The only important thing is that you train regularly and change your diet at the same time. Then the sequence of events is as follows: first you feel the results. Then you see them. And finally, others will also notice the difference to your body. EMS training at Bionic guarantees the before and after effect!

Yes, absolutely. Because muscle building is the central component of EMS training. An effective muscle buildup requires intensive training and sufficient recovery between training sessions. Because EMS training is so intensive, special emphasis must be placed on regeneration. After all, muscles are not built up during training, but afterwards.

Naturally, suitable diet is very important and supports muscle building!

 

Yes. However, you should know that you must have at least 4-6 weeks of patience (depending on individual body composition / genetics), because everybody builds muscle mass with EMS – and muscle tissue is heavier than fatty tissue. (This means that weight loss is low at first). However, the important thing is not what is the scales say, but what is actually happening in the body. The more muscle mass there is, the greater the basal metabolic rate, the more calories are burned and the easier it is to regulate body weight and mold your figure. Due to the increased basal metabolic rate you burn calories around the clock, even during rest periods. This really brings you a little closer to losing weight literally during your sleep. If you now optimize your diet in parallel, you will definitely lose a lot of weight with EMS training.

As little as 500g more muscle mass consumes more than 50 kcal more energy than the same amount of fat during a day at rest. The preservation of muscle mass is therefore of decisive importance when losing weight and provides for a tangible and visible restructuring of the body, which is also worthwhile in the long term.

In principle, at least 50 percent of training success depends on the right diet, because a balanced diet is crucial for physical health and fitness. It is therefore worthwhile to eat properly on top of doing the right training.

Scientific data on the actual calorie consumption through whole-body EMS training have only been available for a short time. Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Kemmler from the University of Erlangen has investigated the actual energy consumption of EMS training. Well-trained young men completed a 16-minute EMS strength training session. Kemmler´s results showed 16 minutes = 412 kcal. Converted to a 20-minute Bionic EMS training session, this results in 515 kcal. Compared to other popular sports that also last 20 minutes, EMS training is well in the lead!

The following orientation values apply for 20-minute training:

EMS training = 515 kcal

Rope jumping (fast) = 300 kcal

Climbing = 275 kcal

Football = 250 kcal

Track and field (hurdles) = 250 kcal

Judo = 250 kcal

Boxing = 225 kcal

Jogging = 210 kcal

Handball = 200 kcal

Badminton = 175 kcal.

Important! Not only the calorie consumption within a training unit is significant. The increased turnover during the regeneration phase, the so-called excess post exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC), also plays a decisive role in the effectiveness of the training. Due to the increased metabolism and intensity of EMS training, scientists assume a strongly prolonged afterburn effect that lasts up to 48 hours after the EMS training session. Therefore, the above values should be set multiplied by 2 or 2.5 respectively.

Since women usually have less muscle mass than men, women should multiply the orientation value 515 kcal by 0.75 = 386 kcal during the EMS training session and 772 kcal (386 x 2) including afterburning effect. 

Furthermore, it should be noted that in addition to gender, age and weight are also taken into account in the calculation of energy consumption, depending on the determination method of. The higher the weight of the user, the higher consumption will be. In addition, the metabolic rate usually decreases with age. Furthermore, the higher the selected intensity over a defined period of time, the more muscles, range of motion and dynamics (functional exercises) are included, the higher the energy turnover and thus the calorie consumption should be. Depending on the setting and exercise selection, values higher than 515 kcal are probably possible.

Last but not least, a long-term adjustment of the muscle metabolism is also decisive for body shaping. A well developed muscle mass as an internal combustion engine can support the body shaping process and metabolize more energy, especially during rest phases without training. The calorie consumption during training is therefore only of limited significance for the actual effect of a training session at Bionic. Moreover, the influence of nutrition should not be underestimated.

As a rule, the following applies: Any healthy person who can also do sports ("fit and active") can do EMS training. There are the following exceptions:

• If you suffer when under physical strain, you should only train after consulting your GP.
• The same applies if you have a pacemaker or a neurological disease, advanced diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, a tumor or tuberculosis.
• If you have a cold or a bacterial infection, you should at least take a break, as you should for any other sport.
• If you are pregnant, please wait until a few weeks after giving birth before starting EMS training.

EMS training is nothing more than an external amplifier of the body's own principle of communicating with the muscles via bioelectric impulses. During training we work with so-called low frequencies, which are harmless for the heart and organs. Therefore: If you are healthy, have no cardiovascular disease and do not have a pacemaker, EMS training is not dangerous for your heart. The EMS pulse reaches neither the heart nor the organs.

Yes! Strong muscles are essential for a healthy back. Back problems are often caused by weak muscles or muscular imbalances. Bionic EMS training builds up the back muscles extremely quickly, including deep muscles. Our personal trainers will instruct you in functional back strengthening exercises. Thus, EMS training reduces or even completely eliminates back pain. And at the same time it improves posture.

Yes. Creatine kinase (CK) is an enzyme that is present in particularly high concentrations in the muscle fibers. It plays an important role as a catalyst in the transfer of energy-rich phosphates to form creatine and ATP (adenosine triphosphate) in the energy household of muscle cells. After intensive training (e.g. EMS) the CK value rises strongly in order to fall back to the initial value after a training break of several days. (Depending on the type of metabolism, it can sometimes rise very sharply).

It is important that the body is sufficiently hydrated, i.e. that enough liquid (e.g. still mineral water) is drunk before and after training.

A connection between increased creatine kinase values after intensive EMS training and pathological findings such as kidney failure, heart attack or rhabdomyolysis (muscle tissue decay) cannot be scientifically established. The increase in CK activity is merely an expression of a highly intensive muscular or metabolic load. This is not expected to have any negative consequences. If you have a blood count taken immediately after an EMS workout, please tell the examining physician about your workout so that he can attribute the increased CK blood value accordingly.

Experts agree: EMS training makes sense and is completely harmless if you do not overdo it (e.g. once or twice a week) and drink enough fluids.

No. Pacemakers are usually used to monitor or stimulate the patient's cardiac activity. If there is no own heart rhythm or if the rhythm drops below a certain limit, the pacemaker starts and sends electrical impulses that cause the heart muscle to contract. This is to ensure a regular and faster heartbeat. Some new models adapt the frequencies at which electrical pulses are transmitted to the situation, e.g. to changes such as during running. Some do this even with emotional changes, such as emotional stress. The main difficulty with pacemakers is whether the pacemaker's detection unit is capable of distinguishing cardiac signals from external sources of interference. Theoretically, if a particular device is prone to interference, a program can be changed or deleted due to the electrical signals; according to many manufacturers, the functioning of the pacemaker may be interrupted during use. In the worst case, threatening asystoles or arrhythmias must be reckoned with. Some experts now assume that modern bipolar pacemakers are hardly affected by external electrical signals, if at all. However, variations between the individual manufacturers and producers cannot be completely excluded. The respective data is inconclusive.

If the electrodes are left out locally around the chest area, the risk of influencing the pacemaker by the EMS impulse should most likely be reduced, but it cannot be entirely ruled out. People fitted with pacemakers are therefore generally advised against therapies using electrical impulses. 

In principle, electronic pacemakers and all electronic implants can be classed as absolute contraindications. This means that we generally do not allow EMS training. 

No. Strictly speaking, pregnancy is considered a "relative" contraindication. "Relative" in this context means that special precautions apply to the training and that it should not be used without precaution in all regions. There is no evidence to date that EMS training during the first few weeks of pregnancy, when you may not even be aware of it, could have a negative influence on the course of the pregnancy. According to initial experience, it is even possible that the strengthening of the pelvic floor and deep muscles could make the course of pregnancy more comfortable. In case of doubt, this can only be decided by the attending physician taking into account all circumstances.

For safety reasons, however, we at Bionic do not recommend EMS training (strength and cardio) after pregnancy has been detected or if pregnancy is suspected.

Yes. Pregnancy and childbirth put a lot of strain on the pelvic floor. EMS enables effective training of the pelvic floor and weakened abdominal muscles. Furthermore, the training has a positive effect on the connective tissue, the fat and muscle proportions of the body and general wellbeing. Please note that EMS training may only begin 6-8 weeks after a natural birth. After a C-section you should be patient and wait for 3-6 months.

Yes - and how! EMS training is considered one of the most effective training methods for pelvic floor complaints, because all the muscles involved in the pelvic floor can be built up through targeted pelvic floor training. Many people, especially women in their mid 40s and women after pregnancy, struggle with weak pelvic floor muscles and thus often also with urinary incontinence. After birth, the abdominal wall and pelvic floor are dilated and excess fat deposits have often accumulated on the abdomen and hips. The postural muscles, such as the deep-lying back and abdominal muscles, are often also affected.

Urinary incontinence is a widespread disease. Many people, especially women, suffer from temporary or permanent incontinence. As a result of weak connective tissue, extreme physical strain and overweight, the organs in the pelvis may sag. Among other things, advancing age and stress may also be responsible for continental weakness. In addition to a reduction in the quality of life, this can also lead to depression, social isolation or a restricted sexual life.

Bionic EMS training allows us to train almost all muscle groups of the body, including the very deep muscles that are necessary for stabilization. The electrical impulses amplify the arbitrary muscle contractions. As a result, the muscles are trained intensively in a very short time, which leads to effective, rapid and lasting strengthening. Scientific studies prove that the pelvic floor muscles in particular can be significantly strengthened by EMS training. Effective whole body training with EMS alleviates complaints and gives sufferers of these complaints a more positive body image.

We recommend that breastfeeding mothers breastfeed BEFORE training. Some babies apparently do not accept breast milk after training. However, the reasons for this are not clear, as no change in milk composition has been found in previous studies - contrary to statements that milk "sours" due to a slight over-acidification of the muscles during training. These statements have not yet been confirmed.

Also, extreme weight reduction by going on a diet should be taboo for nursing mothers, since this would appear to have an unfavorable effect on the development and nutrition of the child. Here, too, the causes and interrelationships have not yet been fully clarified. When and to what extent the abdominal and thoracic electrodes can be reintroduced varies from one person to another and should be discussed with the attending physician.

No. In purely physiological terms, it is not possible for women to build up muscles like a male bodybuilder, because their natural testosterone level is significantly lower than that of men. Even the most intensive EMS training will not cause the arm and leg muscles to swell abnormally. Women's muscles tend to develop " lengthwise", which is tantamount to toning. With EMS training, women can create solid and strong musculature and reduce the proportion of body fat. This gives women an attractive, naturally beautiful figure and transforms their problem zones into showcase zones.

The contraceptive spiral (intrauterine device) is a type of foreign body that is inserted into the uterus. There are different methods and materials, for example copper or hormone spirals. Basically, there is nothing wrong with training using EMS when you have been fitted with a spiral. The implant is not affected by the electrical pulses. In some cases, the intensity can be significantly lower, especially on the backside and abdominal electrodes, as the sensitivity to pain in the area of the spiral may be increased. However, this should not be the case if the spiral is well tolerated and has a good fit. Abdominal cramps or pain during training can be an indication of poor fit or slippage; please report this to your doctor.

It should also be noted that a spiral can cause side effects that caution against the use of whole-body EMS training. Bleeding disorders are reported more frequently, especially in the first 6 months, which are usually attributed to an incorrect fit of the spiral. Inflammation of the pelvis, chest tension, pain or nausea may also occur. In case of side effects, abdominal or pelvic pain and general discomfort, training with EMS should not be performed and a doctor should be consulted. 

Another form of contraception is contraceptive rods, a type of hormone implant in the form of rods a few millimeters in length, which are attached to the inside of the upper arm, for example. The rods are usually made of soft plastic and release a certain daily amount of progestin into the body. Since the insertion of the rods is an operation, the location where the rod has been implanted may be sensitive to the EMS pulse. Therefore, this point should ideally be omitted during training by moving the arm electrode accordingly. A frequent side effect of contraceptive rods is an influence on the bleeding pattern, which for certain individuals may then be entirely altered. Therefore, when using contraceptives or hormone preparations in general, you should consult your doctor before starting training. 

Yes. Our customers confirm this again and again. With EMS almost all muscles in the body are trained simultaneously and much more intensively than normal. The result: Body fat is reduced, muscles are built up, connective tissue toned, the metabolism activated and general performance increased. All this leads to an improved skin appearance and the reduction of cellulite.

There are different types of breast implants, in differing shapes and with different ingredients. Silicone implants are probably the most common. In modern implants, connective tissue changes such as capsule fibrosis or leakage or displacement of the silicone filling occur only in rare cases. In such cases please consult your doctor. 

In general, there is a rest period of up to 8 weeks after an operation, which can, however, be longer in individual cases. Therefore, wait for a doctor's approval before starting EMS training! In most cases, however, EMS training can be resumed relatively quickly by leaving out the chest electrode pads. Depending on the position of the scar, other areas may have to be omitted at first. 

Particularly at the start the arms cannot be strained hard, so perhaps some exercises will only be possible without using your arms; exercises for the chest and shoulders are particularly unsuitable at the beginning. Our personal trainers therefore focus on the body core and lower extremities when selecting exercises. Overall, the design of the exercise depends on the individual healing process. Therefore, only start the EMS training after your attending physician has given you the go-ahead! 

The aim of the Bionic Protection Concept for SARS-CoV-2 protected whole-body EMS training is to keep the risk of a virus transmission during training at the lowest possible level. The safety measures listed below have been developed based of the framework requirements for training activities of the Federal Office of Sports (FOSPO) and the certification institute QualiCert.
 

• Compliance with the basic regulations of the FOPH 
• Hygiene (provision of disinfectant in the studio) 
• Compliance with the distance

Virucidally effective disinfection after each use of: 

• Training tools (pushup grips, steppers etc.)
• EMS training tools (vests etc.)

Safety measures of trainers during the training: 

• Disinfection of the hands
• Minimal physical contact 
• Mask or visor if distance is not possible

• Daily disinfection of all surfaces and the provided utensils
• Hygiene articles in the toilets 
• Written instructions for trainers