Question 322 of 433
Can a machine build muscle while I lie down?
The short answer
It can thicken the muscle it is applied to. It does not replace exercise.
Electromagnetic devices cause thousands of strong contractions in the abdomen or buttocks in half an hour. Company-sponsored studies show more muscle thickness and less fat in the treated area. No study has compared them with real strength training for what matters: functional strength, bone density, blood sugar, balance, or length of life. Four sessions cost several thousand dollars. A gym membership is cheaper and treats your whole body, including your heart.
A related chair is cleared for strengthening the pelvic floor in women with urine leakage. The evidence is short-term. Supervised pelvic floor therapy has much stronger support.
“This book is for education. It is not medical advice, and reading it does not make you my patient or create a doctor-patient relationship.” From the book’s medical disclaimer. Full disclaimer
LIMITED, OFTEN INDUSTRY-SPONSORED — Local stimulation devices: imaging changes; functional equivalence to exercise unproven.Evidence grade (draft mapping)BLimited or small human studiesPart 21, Q322 · Part sources
From Longevity Unmasked by Afshine Ash Emrani, MD, FACC. Medical disclaimer. This book is for education. It is not medical advice, and reading it does not make you my patient or create a doctor-patient relationship. Nothing here is meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Medicine is personal: a test, drug, supplement, or exercise plan that helps one person can harm another. Do not start, stop, or change any medication or treatment because of something you read in these pages. Talk with a licensed clinician who knows your history first. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911. The author disclaims responsibility for any loss or harm arising from use of the information in this book.