Thank you.
Have you had any success or attempted to improve any of the metabolic status indices with the ARP independent of training?
Have you been able to improve these variables by using the ARP in conjunction with training to a greater extent than training alone?
I appreciate the insight.
Yes,we have been able to consistently alter the metabolic potentials as showed by OW DiffEGC analysis,by use of ARP only training.
ARP in conjunction with training alters the dynamic variability of those values in very predictable ways,more than “improving” them " to a greater extent".
What is greatly improved by consistent use of the ARP is training response predictability and repeatability.
I don’t have access to ARP or TheraStim, but I do have a pulsed DC current stim that I have been experimenting with in association with massage and different forms of stretching. I’ve seen very positive results, but I’m still working on duration, intensity and sequencing patterns that elicit the best response.
Very interesting. Have you been able to consistently produce acute improvements in performance with the ARP in swimmers, similar to those described on the ARP website?
Are the acute and/or chronic effects any different in the aquatic environment?
Thanks for your time.
regarding DC current stim is that a compex or cefar device? Thanks
It is from Compex Technologies, but it is a clinical unit (not a consumer unit). Lots of $$$$.
My stim unit seems to have the same DC properties as the unit below:
http://www.securitydirect.co.uk/acatalog/SPORTX_Dual_Purpose_Stimulator.html
http://www.schoolhealth.com/pe_90272.asp
The consumer Cefar and Compex units are AC, not DC.
Always think of the ARP as interacting with humans,not specific athletes’ types.Swimmers benefit from appropriate use of the ARP as any other human,both training and performance wise.
Acute improvements in performance come about when all pieces of the puzzle fit together.When appropriately used,the potential of the ARP is immense,relative to the training and performance levels displayed in most sports today.
In the aquatic environment acute and chronic adaptations achievable by the correct use of the ARP are even more promptly evident.
DC is the key,to start with.
Pakewi
Sorry to go off the topic (sort of anyway). I wanted to know why DC was so important in this topic.
I found this link: its a simple one but you’ll get the idea…
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/edison/sfeature/acdc.html
Basically DC (direct current) electrons flows in one direction and is static in its voltage. It’s limitaion is that the voltage fades when sending power over long distances. (i guess this would be a problem for power companies not for stim units)
AC (alternating current) electrons flow first in one direction and in the other. This makes the flow of electrons change in the direction they travel.
From looking at the arp online video demos, it seems like the DC current is better for healing being that the current flows in one direction. Does this DC flow create a help the body draw or “pull” nutrients and blood to an injured site?
As far as AC stim units (i have a compex) go, the alternating flow does not seem like the best option for healing and recovery. But for a brute force applicaion like stregnth encrease etc can it compete with the ARP device?
Thanks
You need the constant flow of current for some of the effects on the fascia etc. If as with AC the direction is changing say 50 times a second (like in a mains supply) then you are not passing current from point A to B long enough for some of the changes to occur.
The normal problem with DC is that you cannot introduce high enough voltages into the skin without burning. The ARPs background waveform stops this being and issue and for most muscle groups you can get close to 170V and still be able to perform movement.
I was able to speak with a therapist to one of the top sprint groups on Sunday and one of the things were discussed was ARP. He has been a part of a variety of research, from regular EMS and acupuncture, to studies on massage, electroacupuncture, various supplements and other modalities, etc. and he said that when he met with the ARP guys back in the 90s they were unable to present any basis for their settings and when it was discussed that a similar product could be made for dramatically cheaper, they introduced the “protocols” that you must use for the system to work. Not to say EBM is bad and shouldn’t be used, but their basis was rather tenuous.
His general experience and information (from what he told me) was that it had effects similar to that of electro-acupuncture.
My question–not having much personal experience with either ARP of electro-acupuncture, is how their effects are much different since the basis for a lot of the ARP (from what I understand) is based upon acupuncture meridians and the like?
I believe the answer lies somewhere amongst the theories of Nordenstrom and Becker, where there is discussion of an electrical circulatory system in the body. When an injury occurs, there is a disruption in the field and restoration of this field - through modalities such as electrotherapy - can accelerate healing.
I’m still learning a lot about all of this, so don’t consider me the most reliable source. I know that my anecdotal experience has shown significant results. I still want to find out why I’m having these results.
I own Nordenstrom’s book - Biologically Closed Electric Circuits - and the 1990 addendum, but I only understand about 5-10% of what is written. It will be one of those books that I have to read 10-20 times before it starts to make any sense to me.
As far as the ARP guys go, I believe they are still trying to figure it all out. The DC current devices - like ARP and Therastim - are very useful. But, I would talk more with people like Pakewi who are using the ARP on a daily basis to determine appropriate protocols for different athletes. The current responds differently in different athletes, so lots of research is required. Pakewi is the man!
I agree completely here. BCEC is an incredible book (and no doubt expensive) I first read it 18 years ago when I worked in a clinic devoted to EMS related to spinal chord injuries and CP. Even the simple devices used in the clinic and sent home with the patients showed remarkable results- often confirmed by MRI- including the stimulation of overall and specific area growth in children- a phenomina seen with fractures where, on occasion, the injured limb grows longer than the other side due to a flooding of GH. CP children generally reside in the 20th percentile of growth, but after prolonged use of very low intensity EMS, patients moved to the 50th percentile. There was much to note there even with simple tools
Can you point to any resources that can be found online for this? Just finished reading 3 different books of different theories on acupuncture (and electro-acupucture) and its application from 3 very different perspectives. Most seem to believe though (and the research seems to indicate) that there is something going on electrically, though I’d rather hear about what the actual research and science is telling us at this point, rather than just hypotheses that are literally founded on nothing (and often nonsensical) other than to sell something.
Acupuncture needles are pennies, alligator clips are a couple dollars, and there are decent EMS machines for under $100 that can handle a number of different protocols (self-made). To me, that, along with the wealth of knowledge base about acupuncture points and protocols as a whole (both from TCM and from recent medical literature), seems an awful lot more accessible than the ARP. Just my thoughts though.
As an aside–do any of the engineers out there know how to go about making a DC stim machine?
There’s lots of info on Bjorn Nordenstrom and his theories online. Just google him. Might be the best place to start your investigations.
Try this one to start:
http://www.naturalworldhealing.com/nordenstrom-electrical.htm
Others:
http://www.microlightjournal.com/pdfs/Electrical%20Acupuncture.pdf
They are trivial to build, with readily available components.
Also, if you can have access to any ARP device, its trivial to measure it’s output ,and hence reverse engineer any protocol whatsoever it may use and duplicate it in a very cheap device (and I mean very cheap).
Yeah I know it is insanely cheap–the guy I spoke with said his estimates from the 90s could put it under $50 easily, probably much lower if you were handy/thrifty.
Can you point to anywhere to begin for building one of these?
Gracias. My university has his book, too, so I may have to check that out.
I consider this course (or any similar one ) a basic, which should be audit by anyone interested in the bioengineering systems.
http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Biological-Engineering/20-430JFall-2004/CourseHome/index.htm
unfortunately many of the lecture noted offered at aboive address are very hard to understand , but the outlines will point to many interesting directions of self study.
Ill try to find some EMS devices info for you on net, I own some books of medical electronics (EEG, EKG , EMS and other devices )where I got the basics , but they are in my native language. Im 100% positive medical electronics books are widely available in your country as well.
I am fortunate to have access to one of the largest libraries and largest medical libraries in the world, so if you have some names of books or texts in English, there is a good chance I can get access to them.