Electrostimulation for the arms: applications and benefits

Electrostimulation is an all-natural method that uses electrical impulses to strengthen muscles and soothe pain.

Find out everything you need to know about this method and how it can be used to strengthen arm muscles, relieve pain and promote recovery.

Electrostimulation: principle and operation

Electrostimulation is an all-natural method of stimulating nerve fibers around muscles through electrical impulses. The objective is to almost identically recreate the natural contraction process of the body's muscles.

Electrical impulses, of controlled intensity and duration, are transmitted via electrodes placed on the surface of the skin.

Electrotherapy is recognized for its effectiveness and is used in the medical and paramedical sector, but also in the world of sport.

Electrostimulation performs three main functions:

● Relieve acute or chronic pain,

● Strengthen muscles and improve physical performance,

● Relax the muscles by promoting blood circulation.

The principal applications of electrostimulation on the arms

Electrotherapy can effectively target almost every muscle in our body through the use of electrodes.

When used on the arms, it promotes muscle strengthening of the biceps and triceps, prepares the muscles before physical activity and improves recovery following intense exertion or injury.

Muscle strengthening

The muscles of the arms require intense muscular stress in order to develop their strength and endurance. Many people use very heavy weights to achieve the desired results. However, this presents a significant risk of injury, in particular caused by significant stress on the joints.

Electrostimulation combined with regular physical activity promotes muscle strengthening of the arms thanks to the fact that the arm muscles are worked on in two ways (active and passive).

You can use your electrostimulation device during training by placing the electrodes on your arms.

Several exercises targeting the triceps or biceps can be performed in combination with electrostimulation:

● Biceps : curl (standing with barbell, dumbbells or pulley), traction, pump,

● Triceps : dips, kickback, vertical extension, etc.

Note that it is important to follow a healthy and balanced diet in order to obtain convincing results. Your body needs enough protein to build muscle.

Electrostimulation on the arms before and after an exercise session

Some electrostimulation devices, such as Bluetens devices, offer specific programs for physical preparation before practicing a physical activity, but also for recovery following a sporting activity.

Electrostimulation reduces the risk of injury by further strengthening the muscles used intensively during the practice of certain physical activities.

After intensive effort, muscles and joints need some time to regenerate. During this recovery phase, it is not uncommon to feel muscle pain (aches, contractures, etc.).

Electrostimulation helps to relieve the pain felt by gently treating the muscle and promoting the healing of damaged muscle fibers.

Avoid muscle wasting after an injury

Arm injuries are relatively common in certain sports that put a lot of strain on the muscles and joints of the arms.

One of the negative consequences of an injury is the impossibility of practicing a sporting activity. This sudden stop can lead to muscle wasting resulting in a decrease in muscle mass in favor of fat.

Electrostimulation helps to gently strengthen, tone and firm muscles and maintain muscle mass until you can resume regular sports activity.

How to use an electrostimulation device for the arms?

It is recommended that you perform electrostimulation sessions of at least 20 minutes, 3 to 5 times a week. The use of an adequate electrostimulation device as well as a certain regularity are two essential factors in obtaining conclusive results.

The electrodes should be placed on the muscles you want to work:

● The biceps: place an electrode on each end of the biceps,

● The triceps: place one electrode on the upper part of the triceps and a second on the lower part.

The choice of intensity of the electrical impulses depends on your own preference. It is also best to start your session with a low intensity that you can adapt as your body gets used to the sensation.

The effectiveness of electrostimulation on the arms: reviews from athletes

Electrostimulation is used by many top athletes to promote recovery and increase physical performance.

Review by professional rugby player, Caroline Boujard

The international rugby player, Caroline Boujard, regularly uses electrostimulation for her physical preparation. She chose the Bluetens Duo Sport:

“I use the Duo Sport for recovery or for post-workout muscle soreness, but I also use it during my weight training sessions to add a little something extra.”

Review by FFCK on using the electrostimulation electrodes for the arms

Since 2019, the French Federation of Canoeing and Paddle Sports (FFCK) has been using electrostimulation devices with electrodes during sports training sessions.

The objective sought by the federation is to optimize the physical performance of athletes through electrostimulation.