Dictionary
Habituation▾
Habituation is the gradual reduction of the tingling sensation caused by the stimulation of the alpha motor neurons (nerve fibres that are sensitive to fine variations of touch).
Habituation is common during TENS-type treatments when programmed stimulation parameters are used. This is why the Compex TENS programme uses frequency modulation to avoid habituation.
Habituation is common during TENS-type treatments when programmed stimulation parameters are used. This is why the Compex TENS programme uses frequency modulation to avoid habituation.
Energy versus intensity▾
The determining factor in electrical stimulation is the magnitude of electrical charge (microcoulombs) applied. In the case of rectangular pulses, the magnitude of charge is calculated by multiplying the duration of the pulse by the intensity of the current.
When stimulation is performed using a known pulse duration, the intensity (expressed in milliamperes) is a satisfactory and reproducible indicator of the degree of stimulation.
When pulse duration, however, is prone to variation from one session to the next in a programme in which all the other parameters and variables are the same (including the person and the muscle), intensity is no longer an appropriate indicator as the magnitude of electrical charge can vary for the same intensity.
When stimulation is performed using a known pulse duration, the intensity (expressed in milliamperes) is a satisfactory and reproducible indicator of the degree of stimulation.
When pulse duration, however, is prone to variation from one session to the next in a programme in which all the other parameters and variables are the same (including the person and the muscle), intensity is no longer an appropriate indicator as the magnitude of electrical charge can vary for the same intensity.
Fartlek▾
Training and preparation of muscles for all kinds of muscular work (endurance, resistance, strength, explosive strength) through different working sequences.
Pulse frequency▾
Pulse frequency is the number of times a pulse is repeated per second. It is expressed in hertz (Hz).
A frequency of 10 Hz means that the pulse is repeated 10 times every second and that, accordingly, the muscle fibres twitch 10 times every second. Likewise, a frequency of 25 Hz means that the pulse is repeated 25 times every second, and that the muscle fibres twitch 25 times every second. When so many twitches occur in such a short space of time, however, it is not possible to distinguish them as individual twitches. This phenomenon is known as temporal summation. Instead of a series of individual, consecutive twitches, what occurs is a fusion of twitches, or a true tetanic contraction (this process is also known as tetanisation). The greater the fusion, the greater the contraction force, and the greater the work per unit of time.
A frequency of 10 Hz means that the pulse is repeated 10 times every second and that, accordingly, the muscle fibres twitch 10 times every second. Likewise, a frequency of 25 Hz means that the pulse is repeated 25 times every second, and that the muscle fibres twitch 25 times every second. When so many twitches occur in such a short space of time, however, it is not possible to distinguish them as individual twitches. This phenomenon is known as temporal summation. Instead of a series of individual, consecutive twitches, what occurs is a fusion of twitches, or a true tetanic contraction (this process is also known as tetanisation). The greater the fusion, the greater the contraction force, and the greater the work per unit of time.
Pulse▾
Comfort the only key to effectiveness
An optimal pulse is a pulse that is capable of reducing the resting potential to the stimulation threshold within the framework of Weiss?law, while offering maximum comfort to the patient. The patient’s comfort is ensured by reducing the electrical parameters of the stimulation current to a minimum.
An optimal pulse has the following characteristics:
An optimal pulse is a pulse that is capable of reducing the resting potential to the stimulation threshold within the framework of Weiss?law, while offering maximum comfort to the patient. The patient’s comfort is ensured by reducing the electrical parameters of the stimulation current to a minimum.
An optimal pulse has the following characteristics:
- It is a current pulse, i.e. it is delivered by a constant current generator
- It is vertically oriented to provide immediate effect and reduce the current flow time
- It is rectangular, meaning that the lowest possible electrical intensity can be used
- Its duration is equal to the Chronaxy of the target nerve structure in order to use as little electrical energy as possible
- It is compensated by zero electrical mean to prevent secondary effects related to polarisation
Low back pain▾
Low back pain is pain felt in the lumbar region, i.e. under the last vertebra which bears a marker (the vertebrae concerned go from D12 to S1).
Pain concerning vertebrae located above D12 is called thoracic back pain. It has causes, mechanisms and treatments that are different from low back pain and are not dealt with on this site. Low back pain can radiate to the buttocks, the back of the thighs as far as the knees.
Pain concerning vertebrae located above D12 is called thoracic back pain. It has causes, mechanisms and treatments that are different from low back pain and are not dealt with on this site. Low back pain can radiate to the buttocks, the back of the thighs as far as the knees.
Lumbago▾
Lumbago is an attack of sharp, acute or subacute low back pain. It most often occurs when picking up something or during a coughing fit, whether or not the person has carried a weight. the triggering circumstances are often the same as those of lumbosciatica but the posterior vertebral arch whose imbalance has an impact on the disk is also incriminated.
What distinguishes lumbago from acute lumbosciatica is the lack of sciatic pain itself. Otherwise, the low back pain signs are the same: the patient is immobilised by the pain and often forced to stay in bed ("back strain")
What distinguishes lumbago from acute lumbosciatica is the lack of sciatic pain itself. Otherwise, the low back pain signs are the same: the patient is immobilised by the pain and often forced to stay in bed ("back strain")
Muscle Intelligence – Mi technology▾
In the Products section you will find some stimulators preceded by the symbol mi-muscle intelligence. This unique technology takes account of the specificities of each of your muscles and thus offers stimulation adapted to their characteristics.
It’s simple, since the data is transmitted to the stimulator automatically!
It’s personalised, as each of our muscles is unique!
Your training will be automatically personalised and so perfectly adapted to your physiology.
MI-SENSOR
Thanks to the mi-SENSOR miniature sensor a new world of precision and effectiveness is opened up in your workout sessions!
mi-SENSOR is a small sensor that connects the stimulator to the electrodes. It is the key to measuring some physiological characteristics of the muscle.
MI-SCAN
Just before starting a work session using the MI-SCAN function, the MI-SENSOR senses the selected muscle group and automatically adjusts the stimulator settings to the excitability of this area of the body, depending on your own physiology.
It is a truly personalised measurement.
MI-SCAN adapts the electrostimulation session to the physiology of each user.
MI-ACTION
With the MI-ACTION function, the MI-SENSOR optimises the effectiveness of your session by letting you combine voluntary contractions and electrostimulated contractions at your own pace. You are truly in control of your training.
MI-ACTION is a work mode in which a voluntary muscular contraction is automatically accompanied by a contraction caused by electrostimulation.
The contraction caused by electrostimulation is therefore perfectly controlled, the workout session thus becomes more comfortable, increased and more complete.
MI-TENS
With the mi-TENS function, the MI-SENSOR makes it easy to adjust the stimulation energies to be used for pain management programmes. The adjustment takes place instantly and automatically, simplifying the procedure for the user and guaranteeing optimal results.
The MI-TENS function aims to identify and use the optimal stimulation energy throughout the TENS programme (analgesic).
On the basis of the measurements taken regularly during the session, the device permanently and automatically readjusts the stimulation energy to avoid any onset of muscular contraction, which is strongly counter-indicated for programmes of this type.
MI RANGE
With the MI-RANGE function, the MI-SENSOR indicates the optimum stimulation energy adjustment range (minimum and maximum) for lower frequency programmes such as Recovery or Massage.
Using MI-RANGE, you no longer need to ask yourself whether the energy you are using is too high or too low: this function tells you, thus optimising the efficiency of your treatment or training.
RELATED PRODUCTS
COMPEX MI-SPORT and COMPEX mi-FITNESS stimulators include all of the muscle intelligence™ functions.
mi-READY
To allow as many of you as possible to have access to this technology, we have pre-fitted Compex ENERGY and Compex PERFORMANCE stimulators with the mi-READY option.
The benefit?
- This allows you to modify your device by buying the MI-SENSOR as an accessory
- once connected, the MI-SENSOR will allow you to access the benefits of some muscle intelligence™ functions :
MI-SCAN for COMPEX ENERGY
MI-SCAN, mi-RANGE and mi-TENS for COMPEX PERFORMANCE-
- If not connected to the mi-SENSOR, the stimulator works conventionally.
It’s simple, since the data is transmitted to the stimulator automatically!
It’s personalised, as each of our muscles is unique!
Your training will be automatically personalised and so perfectly adapted to your physiology.
MI-SENSOR
Thanks to the mi-SENSOR miniature sensor a new world of precision and effectiveness is opened up in your workout sessions!
mi-SENSOR is a small sensor that connects the stimulator to the electrodes. It is the key to measuring some physiological characteristics of the muscle.
MI-SCAN
Just before starting a work session using the MI-SCAN function, the MI-SENSOR senses the selected muscle group and automatically adjusts the stimulator settings to the excitability of this area of the body, depending on your own physiology.
It is a truly personalised measurement.
MI-SCAN adapts the electrostimulation session to the physiology of each user.
MI-ACTION
With the MI-ACTION function, the MI-SENSOR optimises the effectiveness of your session by letting you combine voluntary contractions and electrostimulated contractions at your own pace. You are truly in control of your training.
MI-ACTION is a work mode in which a voluntary muscular contraction is automatically accompanied by a contraction caused by electrostimulation.
The contraction caused by electrostimulation is therefore perfectly controlled, the workout session thus becomes more comfortable, increased and more complete.
MI-TENS
With the mi-TENS function, the MI-SENSOR makes it easy to adjust the stimulation energies to be used for pain management programmes. The adjustment takes place instantly and automatically, simplifying the procedure for the user and guaranteeing optimal results.
The MI-TENS function aims to identify and use the optimal stimulation energy throughout the TENS programme (analgesic).
On the basis of the measurements taken regularly during the session, the device permanently and automatically readjusts the stimulation energy to avoid any onset of muscular contraction, which is strongly counter-indicated for programmes of this type.
MI RANGE
With the MI-RANGE function, the MI-SENSOR indicates the optimum stimulation energy adjustment range (minimum and maximum) for lower frequency programmes such as Recovery or Massage.
Using MI-RANGE, you no longer need to ask yourself whether the energy you are using is too high or too low: this function tells you, thus optimising the efficiency of your treatment or training.
RELATED PRODUCTS
COMPEX MI-SPORT and COMPEX mi-FITNESS stimulators include all of the muscle intelligence™ functions.
mi-READY
To allow as many of you as possible to have access to this technology, we have pre-fitted Compex ENERGY and Compex PERFORMANCE stimulators with the mi-READY option. The benefit?
- This allows you to modify your device by buying the MI-SENSOR as an accessory
- once connected, the MI-SENSOR will allow you to access the benefits of some muscle intelligence™ functions :
MI-SCAN for COMPEX ENERGY
MI-SCAN, mi-RANGE and mi-TENS for COMPEX PERFORMANCE-
- If not connected to the mi-SENSOR, the stimulator works conventionally.
Plyometry▾
Plyometry is a series of muscle training exercises focused on the tone of the skeletal muscles.
A plyometric exercise consists of working on one or more muscles of the body in power or explosivity mode, comprised of a quick stretching exercise, followed by maximum contraction, mainly using the body's weight as a tool.
This phenomenon is based on the neuromuscular properties of the muscle fibres and brings into play proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF).
A plyometric exercise consists of working on one or more muscles of the body in power or explosivity mode, comprised of a quick stretching exercise, followed by maximum contraction, mainly using the body's weight as a tool.
This phenomenon is based on the neuromuscular properties of the muscle fibres and brings into play proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF).
Motor point▾
The motor points correspond to an extremely localised area where the motor nerve is more excitable. Although the location of the various motor points is now well known, there may nevertheless be variations, which can extend to several centimetres, between different individuals.
The Motor point programme, in some Compex products, associated with the use of the motor point pen, allows to determine with great accuracy the exact location of the motor points for each individual and thus ensure the greatest effectiveness of the programmes.
It is advisable to use this programme before any initial muscular electrostimulation session. The motor points once located can be easily identified using a skin-marker pencil or in any other way, thus avoiding the need to repeat this search before each session.
With Mi technology, which adjusts the pulse duration to muscle chronaxy (measured by mi-SCAN), the degree of stimulation is displayed as Energy.
To even further enhance a patient's sensation of comfort during a neuromuscular electrical stimulation session (linear increase in muscle tension developed), the energy scale used is not linear to intensity but calculated by: multiplying the square of the intensity by the duration of the pulse.
The Motor point programme, in some Compex products, associated with the use of the motor point pen, allows to determine with great accuracy the exact location of the motor points for each individual and thus ensure the greatest effectiveness of the programmes.
It is advisable to use this programme before any initial muscular electrostimulation session. The motor points once located can be easily identified using a skin-marker pencil or in any other way, thus avoiding the need to repeat this search before each session.
With Mi technology, which adjusts the pulse duration to muscle chronaxy (measured by mi-SCAN), the degree of stimulation is displayed as Energy.
To even further enhance a patient's sensation of comfort during a neuromuscular electrical stimulation session (linear increase in muscle tension developed), the energy scale used is not linear to intensity but calculated by: multiplying the square of the intensity by the duration of the pulse.
Twitch and contraction▾
A twitch is a work unit for a motor fibre in response to excitation. The twitch and the work it represents are similar in all ways, whether the excitation comes from an electric pulse or is provoked spontaneously by the nervous system. This means that the muscle fibres always react in the same way to excitation.
The work power generated by the muscle fibres varies depending on the pulse frequency (repetition of pulses). For example, a low frequency of 10 Hz (10 pulses a second) imposes low work power on the excited motor nerve fibres. On the other hand, a high frequency of 100 Hz imposes high work power on the excited motor neurons. Therefore, the type of work imposed on the excited motor neurons depends on the settings of the stimulation programme. In other words, the work is determined by the stimulation settings.
We also know that the responses to the twitch duration depend on the type of muscle fibres. There is a distinction between the slow, intermediary and quick fibres, which obviously react differently. Furthermore, there it a link between the variations in the twitch duration and those of the frequency required to achieve maximum tetanisation of the fibres. This is why the frequencies used in training electrostimulation will obviously vary and must be adjusted to the type of fibres that require tetanisation.
With this knowledge of the duration of the twitch, the tetanisation frequencies of the different fibres and the results of fundamental research and clinical studies, Compex has developed different stimulation programmes. Each of them is specifically based on the type of muscular performance the user seeks.
The work power generated by the muscle fibres varies depending on the pulse frequency (repetition of pulses). For example, a low frequency of 10 Hz (10 pulses a second) imposes low work power on the excited motor nerve fibres. On the other hand, a high frequency of 100 Hz imposes high work power on the excited motor neurons. Therefore, the type of work imposed on the excited motor neurons depends on the settings of the stimulation programme. In other words, the work is determined by the stimulation settings.
We also know that the responses to the twitch duration depend on the type of muscle fibres. There is a distinction between the slow, intermediary and quick fibres, which obviously react differently. Furthermore, there it a link between the variations in the twitch duration and those of the frequency required to achieve maximum tetanisation of the fibres. This is why the frequencies used in training electrostimulation will obviously vary and must be adjusted to the type of fibres that require tetanisation.
With this knowledge of the duration of the twitch, the tetanisation frequencies of the different fibres and the results of fundamental research and clinical studies, Compex has developed different stimulation programmes. Each of them is specifically based on the type of muscular performance the user seeks.
