The Russian chain is an electrostimulation device that promotes muscle contraction that promotes increased strength and increased muscle volume, widely used in physiotherapy to treat people who cannot effectively contract muscle, as in the case of people who have had a stroke or are paraplegic, for example. .
As this device promotes increased muscle strength, athletes have also used the Russian chain to improve performance and for aesthetic purposes to strengthen abdominal muscles, for example. However, this use is still disputed and the effects obtained only by the Russian current are considered to be inferior to those obtained by physical activity.
- Russian current is mainly used in physiotherapy in the rehabilitation process of people unable to properly contract the musculature.
- Such as stroke.
- Muscle atrophy and paraplegia.
- For example.
- In these cases.
- The number of sessions depends on the muscle situation of each person.
- Being the daily sessions of 10 to 15 minutes.
The Russian chain can also be used for aesthetic purposes to strengthen abs, buttocks and legs, and to improve the performance of the athlete as it promotes muscle contraction, increasing strength and endurance. In such cases, the orientation is for the person to continue to perform regular physical activity and for the current to be applied to the muscle that needs a stronger muscle contraction.
The Russian current device is composed of several small pads that are electrodes that should be placed strategically in the middle of the muscle of the region to be treated, but always respecting principles, such as not placing them in agonist or antagonistic muscles at the same time. , and this, be positioned by a physical physiotherapist or trainer.
The device will promote a stimulus similar to the one the brain sends to the muscles, which generates an involuntary contraction of the muscle, but in order to benefit better from this equipment, each time this electrical stimulus occurs, the individual must contract the muscle at the same same time level. Time.
The Russian chain has been used in aesthetics to improve the appearance of the belly, legs and buttocks, however, it is not as effective as the practice of physical exercise, since the contractions performed by the equipment are not exactly the same as the body can perform. Do. Therefore, this equipment should never replace the practice of physical exercise.
It is thought that 10 minutes of Russian chain in the belly correspond to more than 400 traditional abs, but for the Russian chain to be really effective, it is important to contract the abdomen at the same time, because so all the fibers of the right can work the muscle of the abdomen. The same is not true if the person uses the equipment in an aesthetic center, in a totally passive way.
The truth is that the Russian current is able to recruit more muscle fibers during use, provided that the person performs a muscle contraction at the same time that the electrical stimulus occurs. In this way, it would be wiser to use the Russian canal in a gym or rehabilitation center, for example.
Due to the Russian current, we can expect an increase in muscle volume, a decrease in sagging, better blood circulation, better lymphatic drainage, greater ease of movement and greater dexterity to perform delicate movements. However, these results look best when the person initially has muscle weakness caused by a stroke, or is undergoing a physical exercise program that should be done at the same time as using the equipment.
The best results are visible when the Russian current
When a healthy person is only sedentary and does not perform any physical activity, when voluntary contraction does not occur, a slight increase in muscle strength and tone, with a very small increase in muscle volume, and the Russian chain can be noticed. therefore, you can never replace exercise like strength training.
Despite being an excellent treatment for strengthening muscles, the Russian chain should not be used in the following situations:
In addition, the Russian chain should not be applied during an episode of phlebitis or deep vein thrombosis, or in case of muscle injury, ligaments, tendons or in case of fracture where the chain would be applied.