Russian stimulation is a form of high-frequency electrical wave stimulation that uses electricity to contract muscle tissue. After injury or surgery, you may be experiencing muscle weakness. Often, muscles are inhibited after an injury and are unable to generate a forceful contraction. Russian stimulation is used to help improve the contraction of your muscles.
- Intended for strengthening muscles, increasing muscle size, improving muscular endurance, and accelerating muscle recovery
- Similar to EMS, but uses high frequency, sinusoidal stimulation waveforms
- Popularized in the 1970s when Russian researchers used EMS to enhance the training of Olympic athletes
EMS and Russian electrical stimulation are both generally intended for athletic training, but Russian stimulation uses high-frequency sinusoidal waveforms, whereas EMS typically uses lower-frequency rectangular waveforms.
It is used primarily for two reasons:
- Strengthening skeletal muscle that has undergone atrophy
- Fatiguing hypertonic muscle to force it into relaxation
Russian stimulation is not painful but you may have some slight discomfort as the muscle contracts. It would be similar to loading your own muscle with a heavy weight.
Post treatment soreness is fairly common due to the forced contracture of muscle tissue. You can experience some soreness for 24-48 hours post treatment. This is soreness is very similar to the soreness you may experience after a good workout.
