Here’s my problem. I travel too much ! Yeah i love it but it’s a big problem for workouts. It’s all good when i’m home but hard to keep it up in hotel rooms just doing push ups. I have been thinking of buying an electrostimulator for when i’m on the road but have heard so many times that they do nothing for muscle building or maintaining. After some research and recomendation from cyclists, i’ve found a Swiss company called Compex wich supposedly makes stimulators that are quite better than the rest of the junk out there. Still need the opinion of t-mag regulars on this though. Any knowledge or personal experience with Compex, opinions and comments. These machines are not cheap so i need all the advice i can get before going for it, or not. Thanks for the help… Noa
I used a medical electrostimulator to recover from some very bad back injuries. It seemed to help with the pain, over the long term, but although I used it for about 3 months, I didn’t feem that it actually strengthened anything very much… It was about a year before I squatted again, and that too, very light.
Since that was my machine, I messed around with it subsequently… and it has done nothing for me… although I imagine it might make a nice sex toy if youre kinky like that. Anyone want to buy an 8 channel electro, slightly used?
My point, though: maybe the Complex machines are better (but then there’s always someone claiming that their products are better) but I haven’t had any increases in strength or muscle tone that would compare to or surpass what could be achieved with free weights, push ups, good elastic bands or even a skipping rope (if youre talking general fitness here).
I’d be interested to know what effect they have on muscle neurology, though? Hello, are any of our resident geniuses listening?
All the best though.
I think you’d be better off simply learning more exercises you can do on the road. T-mag has two or three articles about this. Death by Bodyweight is one. I think Mahler wrote one of the others. Check’em out and save your money.
electrostimulation sounds like an innovative way to gain strength without lifting a finger, but in the end products like those (e.g. the Abtronic which was recalled) won’t really help you much in the end. if you have to travel often, try to find hotels that are close to a good gym or have a decent weight room inside. see if local gyms will give you a one-time cut rate since you’re there on business and don’t want to pay the $15-20 dollar charge. consider also getting a nationwide membership for a gym/club that will allow you to use their facilities even if you are a non-local member. in the case that you are unable to get to a gym, carry 2 things with you at all times: 1. a chin up bar, and 2. rubber workout bands. you’ll be able to do a lot of things in your hotel room that will help you maintain your strength and fitness even if you can’t make it to the gym.
Go to back issue #275 and read Christian
Thibaudeau’s “MacGyver Workout”.The Beast came up with it while traveling,I think you will find that it’s just what you need.Forget about electrostimulation.
well, most hotels have some sort of a gym unless its a motel. CT I believe has a good article on a workout he MacGyverred in one of those subpar gyms, Strength Training, Bodybuilding & Online Supplement Store - T NATION. Otherwise I am gonna have to agree with Big D and say get some rubber bands, use them properly and you can kick your own ass!!
This article is what you should I read I believe:
It’s by charlie francis. I think you’ll find that it’s not really what you’re looking for in your situation, he only reccomends doing it for a few weeks, a few times a year. It does talk about selecting a good machine though. You’re prolly better off with that CT article already mentioned.
Nick
An electrostimulation unit of any kind will not produce gains in strength or muscle tone if you are not injured. If a person has had an injury, post surgical ACL for example, it can help re-educate the muscles that have experienced atrophy. Without this type of strength and tone deficit, the e-stim unit will not cause the muscle to elicit a strong enough contraction to promote any gains. I’d have to agree with the previous posts though, if you could travel with a chin up bar and some bands, you would be better off using them than buying a e-stim unit.