Use Principles; Placement Of Electrodes; Stimulation Position; Setting The Stimulation Energy Level - Compex Vitality Manuel D'utilisation Et D'applications

Do not use the pain relief programs for
a long period without medical advice.
Benefits of electrostimulation
Electrostimulation is a very effective way to make
your muscles work:
with significant improvement of different
muscular qualities,
without cardio-vascular or mental fatigue,
with limited stress on the joints and tendons.
Electrostimulation thus allows a greater quantity
of work by the muscles compared with voluntary
activity.
To be effective, this work must involve the greatest
possible number of muscular fibres. The number
of fibres working depends on the stimulation
V. USE PRINCIPLES
he use principles presented in this section should be considered general
T
rules. For all programs, it is recommended that you read carefully the
information and advice on use presented in chapter VI of this manual
("Programs and specific applications").

1. Placement of electrodes

It is recommended that you comply
with the suggested placements. To do
this, refer to the pictures and pictograms
shown on the poster and to the "Table with
placements of electrodes and stimulation
positions" in chapter VII.
stimulation cable consists of two
A
poles:
a positive pole (+) = red connection
a negative pole (–) = black connection
different electrode must be connec-
A
ted to each of the two poles.
18
energy. It will therefore be necessary to use the
maximum tolerable energy. The user controls this
aspect of stimulation. The higher the stimula-
tion energy, the greater the number of muscu-
lar fibres that are working and, therefore, the
more significant the progress achieved.
To maximize your results, Compex recommends
that you complement your electrostimulation
sessions with other efforts, like:
regular exercise,
proper and healthy nutrition,
balanced lifestyle.
ote: It is possible and normal to
N
have an electrode arrangement that
leads one electrode connection free
from a cable.
epending on the characteristics of
D
the current used for each program,
the electrode connected to the
positive pole (red connection) is
more effective when placed in a
"strategic" position.
or all muscle electrostimulation
F
programs, i.e., programs involving
muscle contractions, it is important to
place the positive polarity electrode
on the muscle motor point.
he choice of electrodes size (large or
T
small) and the correct positioning of
the electrodes on the muscular group
to be stimulated are determinant and
essential factors for the effectiveness
of the stimulation. Therefore, always
use the size of electrodes shown in
the pictures. Unless you have other
specific medical instructions, always
follow the placement directions in the
pictures. If necessary, find the best
position by slightly moving the
positive polarity electrode, so as to
obtain the best muscle contraction
or the position that seems most
comfortable.
Compex Group disclaims all
responsibility for electrodes positioned
in any other manner.
2. Stimulation positions
To determine the stimulation position
to adopt depending on the placement
of the electrodes and the chosen program,
refer to the pictures and pictograms on the
poster and to the "Table with placements of
electrodes and stimulation positions" in
chapter VII.
he stimulation position depends on
T
the muscular group to be stimulated
and the program chosen.
or the programs involving powerful
F
muscular contractions, the muscle
should always be stimulated in an
isometric fashion. Consequently, you
should fix the extremity of the stimula-
ted limb(s) firmly. In this way, you
provide maximum resistance to the
movement and prevent any shortening
of the muscle during the contraction,
which could create cramp pains and
serious stiffness after the session. For
example, when stimulating the
quadriceps, the user should be in a
seated position with the ankles fixed
with straps to prevent extension of the
knees.
or the other types of programs (for
F
example, the Pain programs and the
program), which do
Active recovery
not involve powerful muscular
contractions, position yourself as
comfortably as possible.
3. Setting the stimulation
energy level
n a stimulated muscle, the number
I
of recruited fibres depends on the
stimulation energy. For the programs
involving powerful muscular contrac-
tions, it is therefore absolutely neces-
sary to use maximum stimulation
energy, always at the limit of what you
can support, so as to involve the
greatest possible number of fibres.
he "Table with placements of
T
electrodes and stimulation positions"
in chapter VII provides information
on the energy to use, depending on
the selected program.

4. Progression in the levels

n general, it is not advisable to go
I
through the different levels quickly
with the intention of reaching level 5
as fast as possible. In fact, the
different levels correspond to progress
with electrostimulation.
he simplest and most usual procedure
T
is to start with level 1 and raise the
level when changing to a new stimu-
lation cycle.
t the end of a cycle, you may either
A
start a new cycle at the next level up
or do some maintenance at the rate
of 1 session a week at the last level
reached.
19