A contracture is a painful increase in muscle tension that may affect the whole muscle or be isolated to a small number of muscle fibres. Contractures can occur after prolonged exertion, such as during a long run, or during exercise, such as during a split session.
Unlike a muscle tear, a contracture is a benign injury which nevertheless disrupts training by imposing a reduced or suspended work program for a few days. The diagnosis of muscular lesions is always delicate and can only be carried out by a health professional, who should be consulted if the pain is significant and/or persistent. The Reduce Muscle Tension program reduces muscle fibre tension and relieves secondary pain.
For runners, the muscles most frequently affected are those of the calf and thigh. The example below can easily be transposed to the treatment of other muscles by adapting the choice of treatment zone and electrode placement to the muscles concerned.
Treatment of contractures
✅Program
Reduce Muscle Tension
🕒Duration and course of treatment
1 week
It is recommended to consult your doctor if no improvement is noted after the first week of use.
1 to 2 sessions per day, every day for one week
📍Electrode placement
Follow the guidance on the device/electrode placement sheet.
🧘Body position
Sitting or lying in a comfortable position.
⚙️Intensity setting
Desired effect: To obtain pronounced, yet comfortable, muscle twitches.
The intensity should be increased until you obtain a muscular response resembling a flutter or a strong vibration, also known as muscular twitching. This muscular activity, which is very different from a real contraction, acts like a pump and is decisive in provoking a sharp increase in blood flow to the stimulated muscle. As you increase the intensity, the muscle twitching is initially discreet, then becomes increasingly pronounced before reaching a ceiling where the muscular response is maximal.
It is, however, possible to increase the intensity, but this does not bring any additional benefits.
