# Electronic Muscle Stimulation - Safe? Effective?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-muscle-stimulation-safe-effective/119047
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [July 15, 2002, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-muscle-stimulation-safe-effective/119047 "2002-07-15T12:45:09Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@G.Cornelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.Cornelius)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2002, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-muscle-stimulation-safe-effective/119047/1 "2002-07-15T12:45:09Z")
My wife is interested in using an EMS device for mulscle toning. These seem to be readily available at a wide range of prices. The claims for EMS seem to be too good to be true. Is EMS safe and is it effective?
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### Author:  [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2002, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-muscle-stimulation-safe-effective/119047/2 "2002-07-15T13:22:25Z")
It’s crap, pure and simple.
[Local ‘Does it work?’ story](http://www.firstcoastnews.com/onyourside/doesitwork/ab_energizer.asp)
Scientifically, these twitching muscle machines are at best an extremely ineffective way to exercise. But most scientists seem to agree that they do absolutely nothing for you.
I know Igia sells them. I’m looking at [Planet Feedback](http://www.planetfeedback.com/) and there is nothing but bad things to say about the company. Although I can’t find any complaints specifically related to that device, only the epil-stop and spray. But the fact that this is something they would sell shines badly on the devices. I mostly post the link since it seems like a really good site.
[an FDA alert about them](http://www.fda.gov/ora/fiars/ora_import_ia8901.html)
[FTC report](http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2002/05/projectabsurd.htm)
AVOID!
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### Author:  [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2002, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-muscle-stimulation-safe-effective/119047/3 "2002-07-15T13:40:01Z")
This has been covered here: they are crap.
Professional devices MIGHT have some use in rehab, but the devices that you refer to have already been given the SDMB seal of crappiness.
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### Author:  [@TridCloudwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TridCloudwalker)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2002, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-muscle-stimulation-safe-effective/119047/4 "2002-07-15T16:38:13Z")
It helped cure some back damage I had, but it will not tone the muscle or burn fat. It just straightens it out.