Electric muscle stimulation?

[squidlicious]

Been on Lupron plus Erleada for 5 years continuously. Previously just on Lupron. 65yo. Regular running and strength training but tricky knee makes squats difficult. In any case, leg weakness has become very concerning. Anyone tried neuromuscular electric stimulation to promote muscle growth?

[mrscruffy]

Not sure if it has ever been shown to work, nor have I heard of anyone using it. I am in need of 2 knee replacements. I limit my squats and opt for machines that focus on calves, quads, ham strings and glutes I do a lot of work with leg press machine. This has made me stronger. I am currently leg pressing 700lbs after 2 years

[900312611 in reply to mrscruffy]

Hello: For what's worth; since you can leg press 700#, and you have bad knees, you probably already know: stay away from hack squat machines, and smith machine squats; known to trash knees...just a friendly FYI I learned many many years ago

your mileage may very...

[mrscruffy in reply to 900312611]

I never do squats on Smith machine or with free weights. I also skip lunges, knees aren't stable enough. I have a good trainer that set up my workouts knowing physical limitations and about the effects of the cancer on my body. She checks up on me and works out with me every couple of months

[petabyte]

I did it about 10 years ago when I smashed my kneecap. Impossible to say if it helped but my doctor said I lost less muscle than usual. I suspect if you are still able to do other exercises, it will make no difference. Imo (I've been lifting for 40 years) squats are overrated, I stopped after my knee injury. There are other options. Find a good professional to help.

[petabyte]

The other thing I would add. It's time consuming and its painful.

You get a full muscle contraction (which hurts) for a few seconds and then it releases.

Just attaching the electrodes is a PITA.

At higher currents the electrodes are not perfect (I have a good quality Compex machine) and you can fell the skin tingling (a lot).

It is really not sustainable except perhaps for an acute injury. Personally I'd skip it.

[London441]

The OP isn’t asking about squat alternatives, he’s asking about electrical stimulation of muscles. Although he does say squats hurt his knees, so yes let’s all say it together: do what you safely can!

The funny thing about a lot of ‘shot’ or ‘bad’ knees that ‘can’t squat’ is that in many cases deep squatting actually solves the knee problem. Most older men have shrinking, weakening legs, particularly quads. Specifically they tend to have weak VMO’s. Naturally knees being supported such legs may struggle with even a modest squat routine.

A proven solution, provided you do not have serious injury, bone fractures etc, is to deep squat daily. Good form with no weight, perhaps even holding on to a bar in front of you at first. It is harder to do properly than many think-even with little or no weight. Lack of hip mobility doesn’t help either-it is often shot by the time we’re older from sitting so much for so long. All of it can be repaired and rejuvenated.

Meanwhile at the gym I see older men doing half squats or half leg presses with heavy weight too often, trying to stay in the game or whatever. It’s not targeting what they need. It’s dumb and dangerous. Deep squatting is magic.

Don’t get mad at me if the shoe doesn’t fit. I do however submit that most ‘bad’ knees that can’t lift are weak legs that NEED to. The whole leg, not part of it! Almost everyone can do some form of total leg work.

To the OP: I don’t know anything about electrical stimulation, but I am quite confident that concentrating on more leg work and less running for a while will help you.

[Mgtd in reply to London441]

Thanks for the excellent write up. Your segment on perhaps less running maybe very valuable. Just envision the legs of a distance runner verse a footballer or baseball player. All three have power but for different uses.

consider a vertical or horizontal leg press machine to work your legs. A horizontal one if available provides less stress on the knees.

[dhccpa in reply to London441]

Thanks for posting. I'll work on that.

[PELHA in reply to London441]

Dead lifts! Husband has knee issues also but can do these. Also balancing on one leg is good too for stability.

[Jsbach1953]

I wonder if you've tried collagen supplementation? I've used an EMS machine on and off for years, and never witnessed any kind of muscle growth as a result. It might help with healing a damaged knee or body part, however, on a gentle setting. It can also possibly help with an infected area (highly speculative, but germs and cancer don't like electricity beyond the usual levels produced in our bodies, according to a few studies I've seen). DMSO might help with your knee joints as well. Knee wraps might be applicable. If I were you, I'd do some experimentation within reasonable safety controls.

[32Percenter]

Unless you're drastically out of shape, the contractions caused by ems machines are nowhere near intense enough to stimulate meaningful muscular strengthening and growth.

If a bad knee is preventing you from doing closed-chain exercises like squats, try doing open-chain ones like leg extension or leg curl machines. You can use your "good" leg to help the other move sufficient weight. Alternatively, you could use both legs to lift the weight, then use the janky one alone to lower it ("negative" or eccentric training).

[j-o-h-n]

Caution should be used when exercising your knees cause you don't want to end up with kneemonia.....

BTW An electric muscle stimulation unit is generally called a vibrator for short, even though it isn't.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n