By Dr. TRACY MOUNTFORD, MBBS MBCAM
If you ask anyone, they’ll tell you how tough the process of building muscle can be. If you’ve ever lifted weights at the gym or been to a body-pump class for example, you’ll know just how much hard work it takes to increase your muscle mass.
Those with a muscle-building goal in mind often opt for the traditional route of combining a protein-rich diet with an intensive weight-lifting regime.
While this tried-and-tested strategy is guaranteed to get you the gains, it takes a lot of time and consistent dedication. Perhaps this explains why people are increasingly searching for fresh new ways to speed up their muscle-building regimes.
How to build muscle fast
If your sole goal is to grow muscle fast, then supplementary techniques and training programmes could be the answer.
Increasing the intensity and number of workouts, eating more protein and getting enough rest for muscle recovery do work. But new non-invasive technologies that force muscles to contract help build muscle in a faster way than traditional exercise.
Building muscle with EMSculpt
EMSculpt is a breakthrough procedure that works to build muscle and burn fat simultaneously using electromagnetic energy. This advanced non-surgical body sculpting and fat reduction treatment not only reduces fat but also helps to tone and strengthen muscles.
EMSculpt’s muscle-building treatment has revolutionised non-invasive body sculpting by giving patients the power to rev up their muscle mass with minimal effort. The brand’s newly launched EMSculpt Neo treatment does this to a greater extent by allowing patients to maximise their muscle mass volume in the shortest amount of time.
How EMSculpt builds muscle tissue
The EMSculpt machine relies on High-intensity Focused Electromagnetic Energy (HIFEM) to contract and build up a person’s muscles.
When this pulse penetrates the skin, it stimulates supramaximal muscle contractions that feel much like the pulls you feel during an intensive gym work-out.
The difference is, you don’t have to lift any weights. But you achieve muscle-crunching benefits equating to 20,000 crunches or squats in a session that lasts less than an hour. This makes it perfect for those who want to build muscle fast with no effort.
How is EMSculpt different from building muscles at the gym?
The EMSculpt device contracts 100% of the targeted muscle. At a gym, people typically contract around 35-40% of the targeted muscle when lifting weights, while professional athletes contract up to 55%.
The risk of incorrect positioning, poor posture or follow-through means there is more room for error during gym-based exercise. EMSculpt’s targeted approach is more precise, resulting in full contractions that build up the muscle in a stronger way.
Who is suitable for EMSculpt?
EMSculpt is a treatment that is ideal for anyone who wants to build up their muscle mass in a fast way with zero recovery time.
Men and women of all ages can benefit, but it’s ideal for those who already maintain a healthy lifestyle. People who are already in their target weight range will see the best results.
The treatment has been cleared by the FDA for use on the abdomen, arms, legs and buttocks. It’s perfect for patients who have already targeted these areas at the gym, but who need an extra muscle-building boost.
EMSculpt for abs
The treatment is ideal for those who are wishing to firm up and tone their abdominal area. A standard 30-minute session of electromagnetic ab contractions is the equivalent of doing 20,000 manual crunches. One study verified a 15% improvement in ab thickness two months after undergoing four treatments.
This helps to strengthen the muscle fibres in the core, making it ideal for athletes working on their ‘six-pack.’
EMSculpt for the biceps & triceps
Bicep and tricep muscles can be toned using EMSculpt as the device is tailored to fit around the arms. A typical 20-minute arm-sculpting treatment for the biceps or triceps is equivalent to 10,000 manual curls.
If you opt to have both biceps and triceps treated, your treatment session will last 40 minutes over a minimum of 4 sessions scheduled 2-3 days apart.
EMSculpt for the buttocks – a non-surgical butt lift
EMSculpt’s non-invasive butt lift and fast muscle building benefits have been a big hit among celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Drew Barrymore, Kim Kardashian, Lindsay Lohan or Megan Fox who have championed the treatment for its toning effects. Several other stars including Lisa Rinna and Erika Jayne from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills have also utilised the treatment to get into shape.
The EMSculpt machine lifts and strengthens your gluteal muscles by forcing your glutes to contract up to 12,000 times in a standard 30-minute session. In one clinical study, patients reported an 85% improvement in gluteal muscle tone after the fourth treatment, proving how effective it is to sculpt and tone this key area of the body.
The EMSculpt results
1.Improved muscle tone, increased muscle mass and fat reduction
You can expect to see improved muscle tone and fat reduction in targeted EMSculpt areas. EMSculpt’s founder BTL reported that seven multi-centre studies showed an average muscle mass increase of 19%, as well as a 96% patient satisfaction rate. EMSculpt’s newly launched Neo treatment has even more impressive muscle-building effects by giving patients the ability to increase muscle mass by 25% after 3 months of treatment.
2.Stronger performance increase
Those who work out regularly will also find that they are stronger. They may be able to lift more, hold a plank for longer or squat even heavier. Runners and swimmers also find they can perform faster due to their strengthened core. Patients who have their abdomen treated also benefit from improved posture right after the first session. This can also help to improve lower back pain.
Can I lift weights and exercise after EMSculpt?
EMSculpt is a ‘zero downtime’ treatment, meaning gym goers can resume their normal activities following the procedure. However, treated muscles may feel tender afterwards, so it’s best to rest before returning to a gym routine.
To find out more about the advanced muscle-building benefits of EMSculpt, email us at [email protected] or book a consultation with one of our clinicians at The Cosmetic Skin Clinic. You can find us in London and Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire.
