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Reduce Swelling and Stimulate the Lymphatic System

diagram of Reduce Swelling and Stimulate the Lymphatic SystemThis morning we received a call from a potential customer asking if the Advanced Foot Energizer will help reduce swelling and stimulate the lymphatic system.

Let me briefly explain what the lymphatic system is. Lymph fluid is a clear liquid that helps your body get rid of toxins, fat, viruses, dead cells, and even bits of undigested food that may seep through the stomach wall. Lymphatic drainage is one of the body’s first lines of defense when it comes to immunity. It is also very important to muscle recovery.

The lymphatic circulatory system does not have a heart of its own. Rather, it works based on a system of valves that open and close. As your muscles expand and contract, they squeeze the lymphatic system and force the fluid through the valves, which then close and move the fluid forward.

As we age, and due to lifestyle choices, our lymphatic system can slow down. This may be because we sit improperly, wear tight-fitting shoes, or a number of other factors.

The Advance Foot Energizer is cleared by the FDA for muscle conditioning. Part of muscle conditioning includes the stimulation of your muscles in your legs and feet and also where you place your body pads. This stimulation increases the activity of your muscles by causing them to expand and contract repeatedly. This in turn increases blood flow as well as lymph flow.

It works because when your muscles contract, the valves in the lymphatic system open and close. This allows the lymph fluid to move through your body along with toxins that have accumulated. They exit your body through your perspiration and urine.

You can activate the lymphatic system by exercising and other modalities as well. If you’re finding that you are not able to exercise as much as you like and if your legs and feet are swollen at the end of the day, you should find that the Advanced Foot Energizer can really help with increasing the circulation and flushing the toxins from your feet and legs. This muscle conditioning can help you get back on your feet and regularly exercising again.

When we demonstrated the Advance Foot Energizer on hundreds of different people, we noticed that if they placed the body pads above the knees on each side of the leg, they were able to increase the amount and speed of the swelling reduction.

Something to keep in mind is that hydration is very important when you’re doing something that is helping to flush toxins out of your cells and into your circulatory system. You must give your body fluids that can carry away those toxins and flush them out either through your sweat glands or urine. If you don’t hydrate well enough, you may end up feeling slightly ill the following day because those toxins may have pooled in your intestinal tract. Remember to drink lots of water, which will not only help flush toxins out of your body but will also help your body be more receptive to the electrical stimulation.

Articles on using electrical stimulation to reduce swelling and stimulate the lymphatic system:

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Advanced Foot Energizer Modes

Using the Advanced Foot Energizer at home to relieve tired achy feet

25 Separate Programed Advanced Foot Energizer Modes

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Using remote to choose different modes and intensity
Choose different modes and intensity with the remote control

With the Advanced Foot Energizer modes you have many options for different types of electrical stimulation. There are 25 total programed modes. Modes 1 -8 are for Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) and Modes 9-25 are for Transcuteneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS).

Should I use EMS or TENS

In our experience, TENS is a quicker way to block pain signals to your brain, while EMS has a longer lasting effect. The modes may be used one after the other so that you can begin with a TENS treatment and follow it with an EMS treatment.

EMS stimulates healthy muscles in order to improve and facilitate muscle performance by applying electrical muscle stimulation to the soles of your feet through two large foot-shaped pads. Your foot and calf muscles will contract and relax repeatedly which helps pump blood through your legs.

TENS blocks pain signals from getting to the brain by sending several hundred electrical messages along the nerve fiber at the same time. The high number of messages confuses the brain and the painful area is unrecognized.

Many chronic pain sufferers have found that using the combination of TENS and EMS treatments provides maximum results by blocking pain signals (through TENS) and conditioning muscles (through EMS). The combination of both frequencies means that you can choose to stimulate nerve endings or to stimulate muscles depending on the desired effect you want.

Sometimes using a combination of stimulation for your feet as well as using body pads in certain locations have the best effect.

For longer term muscle performance enhancement the EMS modes will have the best effect.

Mode Pattern Stimulation
Method
1 Reflex Points and Pushing EMS
2 Reflex Points EMS
3 Reflex Points and Kneading EMS
4 Reflex Points and Tapping EMS
5 Pulling Massage EMS
6 Pushing Massage EMS
7 Pulling Massage EMS
8 Pushing Massage EMS
9 Pushing and Squeezing TENS
10 Reflex Points and Squeezing TENS
11 Reflex Points and Hammering TENS
12 Kneading Massage TENS
13 Thumping Massage TENS
14 Pulling and Pressing TENS
15 Cupping TENS
16 Body Shaping TENS
17 Hammering Massage TENS
18 Massage Tapping TENS
19 Pushing TENS
20 Rolling and Pounding TENS
21 Squeezing TENS
22 Stroke Massage TENS
23 Reflex Points Massage TENS
24 Shiatsu TENS
25 Rolling and Kneading TENS

SHIATSU, CUPPING, REFLEXOLOGY

Foot Reflexology Chart (opens new window)

The Advanced Foot Energizer modes above include programs that not only mimic shiatsu and cupping massage, but actually activate reflex points in your feet. Taking advantage of thousands of years of Eastern medicine’s research into the body’s own energy flow, it helps your body enjoy the benefits associated with these techniques.

The foot pads on the Advanced Foot Energizer are divided into different areas that target individual parts of your feet. These areas are referred to as “foot meridians” in Chinese medicine. In reflexology, the understanding is that all the different parts of your body are connected to the soles of your feet. Stimulating the specific areas of the bottom of your feet can help to improve your overall health. Because it uses this unique combination of Chinese and Western medicine the Advanced Foot Energizer is an excellent choice for treating your painful and tired feet.

Reflexology Benefits:

  • Relaxation and Stress Relief
  • Improved Circulation
  • Pain Relief
  • Restoring energy flow
  • Stimulation of the immune and nervous systems
  • Improving elimination of toxins in the body
  • Stimulating the body’s own healing processes
  • Encouraging a feeling of well-being
  • Improved balance between body, mind and spirit.
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Using a TENS Unit For Foot Pain

Using the Advanced Foot Energizer EMS and TENS at home to relieve foot painA common problem with electrodes is finding the right places to attach them for maximum relief and benefit when using a TENS unit for foot pain. It’s a process of trial and error – even for Doctors, Physical therapists and other health care professionals. This applies to EMS and other Neurostimulation modes as well.Using a TENS Unit For Foot Pain

Using a TENS Unit For Foot Pain – Enter the Advanced Foot Energizer

Using the Advanced Foot Energizer as a TENS and EMS unit for foot pain is marvelous for the simple reason it eliminates placement guess work and treats the entire area evenly. It’s the special plantar foot pads that allow the Energizer to perform as large foot fitting electrodes.

AFE-Foot-Reflexology-ChartThe bottom of our feet is like a fuse box. There are several pressure points on the bottom of our feet and these pressure points are associated with other parts of out body. By stimulating the pressure points the body part associated with the pressure point is also stimulated. The Advanced Foot Energizer stimulates these pressure points while at the same time activating your circulation in your feet and legs. It is by far the easiest method of using a tens unit for foot pain.

The foot pads on the Advanced Foot Energizer are divided into different areas that target individual parts of your feet. Chinese medicine traditionally refers to these areas as “foot meridians”. In reflexology, the understanding is that all the different parts of your body are connected to the soles of your feet. Stimulating the specific areas of the bottom of your feet can help to improve your overall health. Because it uses this unique combination of both Western and Chinese medicine techniques the Advanced Foot Energizer is an excellent choice for treating feet that are tired and  painful.

Please note that if you have neuropathy you may not feel the stimulation right away, even at full strength. Customers report either feeling the stimulation immediately to up to two weeks before feeling the sensation with consistent use. Take it at your pace but use it at lease once or twice per day for at least 25 minutes. Consistent use is the key; don’t expect to get the same results sitting down for two hours once a week as you would if you used the Advanced Foot Energizer 25 minutes every day. You may also use the body pads to apply stimulation concurrently to your calf muscles increasing the circulation even further. If you suspect you have or have been diagnosed with neuropathy visit with your doctor about using electrical stimulation for your feet.

Runners Using a TENS Unit For Foot PainA must for runners, cyclists or anyone with foot and ankle pain

If you are a runner, hiker, or cyclist with foot and ankle pain then the Advanced Foot Energizer is the perfect tool for post workout recovery. It is relaxing and really eases pain from running on trails and roads. The body pads can be used to stimulate your knees or leg muscles at the same time as you are treating your feet, helping to condition your muscles and speed recovery time.

Great product! I use it to smooth out the aches and pains in my feed and legs during my half marathon training. It takes the edge off and really does make a difference. Great to use while watching TV or reading. Highly recommend one of these! – Phil Snyder

Advanced Foot Energizer Money Back GuaranteeTry the Advanced Foot Energizer risk free with our 60-day buy back guarantee and get back to running, cycling, hiking, or walking faster!

 

Abstracts and further reading:

Activation of human plantar flexor muscles increases after electromyostimulation training
Nicola A. Maffiuletti, Manuela Pensini, Alain Martin
Journal of Applied Physiology Published 1 April 2002 Vol. 92 no. 4, 1383-1392 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00884.2001

Link

Neuromuscular adaptations of the plantar flexor muscles were assessed before and subsequent to short-term electromyostimulation (EMS) training. Eight subjects underwent 16 sessions of isometric EMS training over 4 wk. Surface electromyographic (EMG) activity and torque obtained under maximal voluntary and electrically evoked contractions were analyzed to distinguish neural adaptations from contractile changes. After training, plantar flexor voluntary torque significantly increased under isometric conditions at the training angle (+8.1%, P< 0.05) and at the two eccentric velocities considered (+10.8 and +13.1%, P < 0.05). Torque gains were accompanied by higher normalized soleus EMG activity and, in the case of eccentric contractions, also by higher gastrocnemii EMG (P < 0.05). There was an 11.9% significant increase in both plantar flexor maximal voluntary activation (P < 0.01) and postactivation potentiation (P < 0.05), whereas contractile properties did not change after training. In the absence of a change in the control group, it was concluded that an increase in neural activation likely mediates the voluntary torque gains observed after short-term EMS training.

Electrostimulation training effects on the physical performance of ice hockey players.

Brocherie F(1), Babault N, Cometti G, Maffiuletti N, Chatard JC.

Author information:
(1)Performance Expertise Center, UFR STAPS, University of Burgundy, Dijon,
FRANCE.

1. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2005 Mar;37(3):455-60.

Link

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the influence of a short-term
electromyostimulation (EMS) training program on the strength of knee extensors,
skating, and vertical jump performance of a group of ice hockey players.
METHODS: Seventeen ice hockey players participated in this study, with nine in
the electrostimulated group (ES) and the remaining height as controls (C). EMS
sessions consisted of 30 contractions (4-s duration, 85 Hz) and were carried out
3x wk for 3 wk. Isokinetic strength of the knee extensor muscles was determined
with a Biodex dynamometer at different eccentric and concentric angular
velocities (angular velocities ranging from -120 to 300 degrees .s). Jumping
ability was evaluated during squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), drop
jump (DJ), and 15 consecutive CMJ (15J). Sprint times for 10- and 30-m skates in
specific conditions were measured using an infrared photoelectric system.
RESULTS: After 3 wk of EMS training, isokinetic torque increased significantly
(P<0.05) for ES group in eccentric (-120 and -60 degrees .s) and concentric
conditions (60 and 300 degrees .s), whereas vertical jump height decreased
significantly (P<0.05) for SJ (-2.9+/-2.4 cm), CMJ (-2.1+/-2.0 cm), and DJ
(-1.3+/-1.1 cm). The 10-m skating performance was significantly improved (from
2.18+/-0.20 to 2.07+/-0.09 s, before and after the 3-wk EMS period, respectively;
P<0.05).
CONCLUSION: It was demonstrated that an EMS program of the knee extensors
significantly enhanced isokinetic strength (eccentric and for two concentric
velocities) and short skating performance of a group of ice hockey players.

PMID: 15741845 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

 

The effects of electromyostimulation training and basketball practice on muscle strength and jumping ability.

Maffiuletti NA(1), Cometti G, Amiridis IG, Martin A, Pousson M, Chatard JC.

Author information:
(1)Groupe Analyse du Mouvement, UFR-STAPS, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon,
France. Nicola.Maffiuletti@u-bourgogne.fr

1. Int J Sports Med. 2000 Aug;21(6):437-43.

Link

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of a 4-week
electromyostimulation training program on the strength of the knee extensors and
the vertical jump performance of 10 basketball players. Electromyostimulation
sessions were carried out 3 times weekly; each session consisted of 48
contractions. Testing was carried out before and after the electromyostimulation
training program (week 4) and once more after 4 weeks of normal basketball
training (week 8). At week 4, isokinetic strength increased significantly (p <
0.05) at eccentric and high concentric velocities (between 180 and 360 x s(-1));
this was not the case for low concentric velocities (60 and 120 degrees x s(-1)).
Electromyostimulation training increased also isometric strength at the two
angles adjacent to the training angle (p < 0.01). Squat jump increased
significantly by 14% at week 4 (p < 0.01), whereas counter movement-jump showed
no change. At week 8, gains in isokinetic, isometric strength and squat-jump
performance were maintained and the counter movement jump performance increased
significantly by 17% (p<0.01). Electromyostimulation as part of a short
strength-training program enhanced knee extensor strength and squat jump
performance of basketball players.

PMID: 10961520 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Electromyostimulation training effects on neural drive and muscle architecture.

Gondin J(1), Guette M, Ballay Y, Martin A.

Author information:
(1)INSERM/ERM 207 Laboratory, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Burgundy,
Dijon, France. julien.gondin@u-bourgogne.fr

1. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2005 Aug;37(8):1291-9.

Link

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of 4 and 8 wk of
electromyostimulation (EMS) training on both muscular and neural adaptations of
the knee extensor muscles.
METHODS: Twenty males were divided into the electrostimulated group (EG, N = 12)
and the control group (CG, N = 8). The training program consisted of 32 sessions
of isometric EMS over an 8-wk period. All subjects were tested at baseline (B)
and retested after 4 (WK4) and 8 (WK8) wk of EMS training. The EMG activity and
muscle activation obtained under maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) was used to
assess neural adaptations. Torque and EMG responses obtained under electrically
evoked contractions, muscle anatomical cross-sectional area (ACSA), and vastus
lateralis (VL) pennation angle, both measured by ultrasonography imaging, were
examined to analyze muscular changes.
RESULTS: At WK8, knee extensor MVC significantly increased by 27% (P < 0.001) and
was accompanied by an increase in muscle activation (+6%, P < 0.01), quadriceps
muscle ACSA (+6%, P < 0.001), and VL pennation angle (+14%, P < 0.001). A
significant increase in normalized EMG activity of both VL and vastus medialis
(VM) muscles (+69 and +39%, respectively, P < 0.001) but not of rectus femoris
(RF) muscle was also found at WK8. The ACSA of the VL, VM, and vastus intermedius
muscles significantly increased at WK8 (5-8%, P < 0.001) but not at WK4, whereas
no changes occurred in the RF muscle.
CONCLUSION: We concluded that the voluntary torque gains obtained after EMS
training could be attributed to both muscular and neural adaptations. Both
changes selectively involved the monoarticular vastii muscles.

PMID: 16118574 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

From the above studies we can conclude that using a tens unit for foot pain will not only reduce pain, but that ther are significant gains in muscle conditioning and strengthening as well.

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