Electrical Muscle Stimulation: Shocking, but Does It Work?

Geezer recently learned that for many people EMS does not mean "Eastern Mountain Sports," the purveyor of outdoor clothing and equipment. No. For many people. EMS means "electrical muscle stimulation," the use of electrical impulses to stimulate muscle contractions, all with the intent of  strengthening muscles. Sounds painful. Sounds weird. Sounds shocking. Does it work? In this informative piece, the L.A. Times gives us the lowdown on ludicrous claims of some EMS manufacturers, as well as one authoritative study suggesting that at least one EMS device can do some good. The Times reports that the Slendertone Flex really is FDA-approved for "toning, strengthening and firming abdominal muscles." The piece cites a 2005 study that found that all 24 subjects who used the belt five days a week for eight weeks said their abs felt firmer and more toned. Stomach-crunch tests showed a strength gain — about 70 percent more than a control group. Lab measurements showed they lost more than an inch from their waistline, but they didn't shed body fat or drop pounds.