27 replies to this topic

[Vanessamaee]

Since Starting riding the fes bike I have noticed ab function starting to come back. I only get to ride the fes bike twice a week for an hour which totals to be 7 miles each time I ride. Ive been wanting to get an fes bike for home but its taking awhile to see if insurance will help etc. My dad mentioned awhile back about the ab belts that claim to give you a six pack without you having to even work out. I dont want a six pack necessarily, Im just thinking would this help for ab spasms? Would this help get rid of the para belly? I mostly want to try this to see if it will help me regain anymore of my abs. What do you all think? Like I said, Its not for the "six pack" its more for spasms and regenerating nerves.
Or with this just be a total waste of money.

http://www.theflexbe...CFQLj7QodqUvrBw
thats the product I am referring to

[A trophy guy]

Short answer: complete and utter waste of money.

[MTB John]

Short answer: complete and utter waste of money.

Then I'd like to hear the long answer please.

I can't see why it would not work in the same way as the bike. Electrical impulses will cause the muscles to contract, thus, exercising them.
This type of thing is great for working muscles that you have no control over as it activates the muscle without any message being sent from the brain. But if your trying to regain function you need to be sending signals back and forth between brain and muscle in order to repair the damaged nerves.

Easy fix is to work with the machine. Instead of sitting idly while the machine does the work you need to be trying to actively engage the muscles at the same time. Just think back to before the accident and imagine flexing the muscles.

I only skimmed the link you posted so do not know if the belt works in short or long bursts but short is best. Long bursts are good for strengthening but at this stage you just need to be switching the muscle on and off as many times as you can. 10 seconds is good.

Oh, yes it will help with spasms, again, just like the FES bike..



Good luck..

[Tetracyclone]

VM,
If AB function is "coming back" then asap work on strengthening them in the usual ways. Try to lift your shoulders while laying down or reclining. Twist in your chair. Twist your legs from side to side while laying down. The short guy can help at first if you need help. You probably don't need the belt as much as you need to work on conscious control of that muscle group. You have lost the coordination, but like stroke victims, you can win it back.

Some of the best stuff you could do (because you will not notice the effort) is work at having fun in bed with the BF. Traversing the distance down to his lap area can be quite a workout.

[MrBump]

My belly torches me...
I wake up from sleeping on my back all night, do a couple of stretches then flip on my stomach and go into a pushup position arching my back for a few minutes.
When I roll back over I guess they are spasms right thru my abs, but I look like I should be in the chippendales my gut is that hard and flat !!!!!!! They stay hard for about 5 -10 mins then go back to the saggy state.
I've only noticed this in the last few weeks and I've been in the chair for 4 years now...

Doesn't help you in your question, but thought I'd just tell my story

[Muskie]

Hi V,

When those AB belts first came out they were advertised like crazy, you really don't see them anymore. Know why? some one with no feeling got third degree burns.

K

[Ohiokitten4]

I joked around with my doctor and told him I needed to go on biggest loser...he told me they wont take me.. He said I wasnt fat enough, but he put me on a T.E.N.S. stimulator. I have been using it now for about 3 months. I use it once per day, and have seen some results from using it. There is always the possibility of getting red..or "burns", but they told me to zap my arm so I would know what the degree is before putting it on parts that have no feeling. I have noticed a difference in how my clothes fit, and I intend to keep using it. I figure if it was doctor prescribed it should be ok. The belts that are sold on TV.. No idea.

[Vanessamaee]

Hi V,

When those AB belts first came out they were advertised like crazy, you really don't see them anymore. Know why? some one with no feeling got third degree burns.

K

I had no idea!

and @Ohio- I will definatly be talking to my docotor about a tens unit and see what he says! (:

Thank you everyone

[lavenderthistle]

Ness....jump on it. Ask your therapist for a recommendation/script for a professional machine. E/Stim can definitely help maintain muscle through impulse but will not CREATE muscle. I cited a reference earlier in another thread (can't remember where....oops) about it not forming new muscle but maintaining.

I've been through enough therapy over the years (other injuries) to know for a fact it does fire muscles and help maintain tone.

Sorry to disagree with you ATG...in the case of Ness it can help. For working LOST muscle it is a no in that case.

Make sure you get a prescription machine Ness, learn the settings and counterbalance.

[brockit79]

I 2nd a couple of the comments (MTB John and Lavender Thistle mainly) really Ness, as for keeping the para belly down diet and exercise is the best, keep working and keep exercising then if/when your abs return or reach their max potential you will be fit and healthy and better equipped to benefit from them. No harm in being fit and healthy; FES for abs will help the muscles to function but as said dont have the settings too high.

Hope this helps; ooh yes I intend to use a fes belt when I start FES rowing; testament to my belief in it

Broc

[RSUK]

do you reckon the flex belt is the same as slendertone?

http://www.slenderto...ng-for-men.aspx

when i first got home from hosp i used the slendertone as i used it with results pre sci. however, i reckon post sci i probably had it on a too high setting as had bad red rash on tum after, so ive given it a miss for a while. However, i wanna start using it again in addition to the core stretches i do in bed / chair each morning.

i wanna try this FES out. i knew there was bikes for your legs (if you are compatable) but didnt know there was one for your stomach!!!

Rich

[ClaraTaylor]

There was a chap on here last year, I fear I can't remember his name, who was using one and claimed to be getting results (over months - not weeks or days).

[Vanessamaee]

Thank you you guys! (: And yes Im not looking for getting a chisled six pack but instead just work the muscles I still have left. Having almost the entire upper section of my rib cage T1-T7 fused, my "crunches" are pathetic attempts to left my shoulders off the ground, rod dont really bend that way. I will definatly talk to my doctor about it and see what he thinks (: glad to know others out there have used it/thought of it!

[tsh3406]

I use an e-stim on both my abs and legs when exercising, and the combination of the two provides a significantly stronger contraction than either by itself. With extremely weak muscles there's just no other way of getting them to contract.

[A trophy guy]

Ness....jump on it. Ask your therapist for a recommendation/script for a professional machine. E/Stim can definitely help maintain muscle through impulse but will not CREATE muscle. I cited a reference earlier in another thread (can't remember where....oops) about it not forming new muscle but maintaining.

I've been through enough therapy over the years (other injuries) to know for a fact it does fire muscles and help maintain tone.

Sorry to disagree with you ATG...in the case of Ness it can help. For working LOST muscle it is a no in that case.

Make sure you get a prescription machine Ness, learn the settings and counterbalance.

Um, she wasn't talking about a prescription machine, she's talking about those 2a.m. infomercial ab belts that hawked on TV. That is what I was giving my opinion on, not on the therapy on electric-stimulation. I would definitely recommend electric-stim for those who might benefit from it, but I remain firm with my original opinion that those ab belts are a waste of money.

[Vanessamaee]

Ness....jump on it. Ask your therapist for a recommendation/script for a professional machine. E/Stim can definitely help maintain muscle through impulse but will not CREATE muscle. I cited a reference earlier in another thread (can't remember where....oops) about it not forming new muscle but maintaining.

I've been through enough therapy over the years (other injuries) to know for a fact it does fire muscles and help maintain tone.

Sorry to disagree with you ATG...in the case of Ness it can help. For working LOST muscle it is a no in that case.

Make sure you get a prescription machine Ness, learn the settings and counterbalance.

Um, she wasn't talking about a prescription machine, she's talking about those 2a.m. infomercial ab belts that hawked on TV. That is what I was giving my opinion on, not on the therapy on electric-stimulation. I would definitely recommend electric-stim for those who might benefit from it, but I remain firm with my original opinion that those ab belts are a waste of money.

Woah now. My thread, lose the attitude.
You can save that for yours.
And I was referring to electrical stimulation for my abs in general. not just the ab belt, thats just the only thing I could find that kind of explained what I was talking about.

[A trophy guy]

Ness....jump on it. Ask your therapist for a recommendation/script for a professional machine. E/Stim can definitely help maintain muscle through impulse but will not CREATE muscle. I cited a reference earlier in another thread (can't remember where....oops) about it not forming new muscle but maintaining.

I've been through enough therapy over the years (other injuries) to know for a fact it does fire muscles and help maintain tone.

Sorry to disagree with you ATG...in the case of Ness it can help. For working LOST muscle it is a no in that case.

Make sure you get a prescription machine Ness, learn the settings and counterbalance.

Um, she wasn't talking about a prescription machine, she's talking about those 2a.m. infomercial ab belts that hawked on TV. That is what I was giving my opinion on, not on the therapy on electric-stimulation. I would definitely recommend electric-stim for those who might benefit from it, but I remain firm with my original opinion that those ab belts are a waste of money.

Woah now. My thread, lose the attitude.
You can save that for yours.
And I was referring to electrical stimulation for my abs in general. not just the ab belt, thats just the only thing I could find that kind of explained what I was talking about.

?? wha? Attitude? I was just defending my statement. And if you didn't mean "just" ab-belts, you should have said so in your OP.

[Ratticis]

Ever notice how a total douchebag always feels the need to "defend" everything he says?

[Tetracyclone]

Ever notice how a total douchebag always feels the need to "defend" everything he says?

Careful Rat. You begin to fulfill your own statement here. Learn the joy of clicking on "Cancel"

[Dub]

Ness....jump on it. Ask your therapist for a recommendation/script for a professional machine. E/Stim can definitely help maintain muscle through impulse but will not CREATE muscle. I cited a reference earlier in another thread (can't remember where....oops) about it not forming new muscle but maintaining.

I've been through enough therapy over the years (other injuries) to know for a fact it does fire muscles and help maintain tone.

Sorry to disagree with you ATG...in the case of Ness it can help. For working LOST muscle it is a no in that case.

Make sure you get a prescription machine Ness, learn the settings and counterbalance.

Um, she wasn't talking about a prescription machine, she's talking about those 2a.m. infomercial ab belts that hawked on TV. That is what I was giving my opinion on, not on the therapy on electric-stimulation. I would definitely recommend electric-stim for those who might benefit from it, but I remain firm with my original opinion that those ab belts are a waste of money.

Woah now. My thread, lose the attitude.
You can save that for yours.
And I was referring to electrical stimulation for my abs in general. not just the ab belt, thats just the only thing I could find that kind of explained what I was talking about.

?? wha? Attitude? I was just defending my statement. And if you didn't mean "just" ab-belts, you should have said so in your OP.

This is kinda funny..... V i bought one of those cheap little belts and I own a therapeutic device with electro pads and i have seen similar result from both. Any type electronic stimulation used to help manipulate brain ways to those muscles can be promising. The key thing is to not let those muscles get lazy. Anyway-- I use my cheap little ab belt that some claim is a waist of money and i has seen decent result, not as aggressive as the therapeutic ones but some results. As a T-1 para i hated that my belly turned into a gut. So i bought a belt and it helped with the gut look a bit. I mean dont expect body builder abs but it stimulation kinda gave me my tone back.....

[Vanessamaee]

Why is it some of the thereputic TENS units are less expensive than the Flex Belt? lol this I dont understand. I have a feeling its just payin for the name? I think I might give a TENS unit a try though (:

[Ratticis]

Sooo, hooking booster cables up to your nipples; Wierd fetish, or the new thing in home work out devices?

[Vanessamaee]

Sooo, hooking booster cables up to your nipples; Wierd fetish, or the new thing in home work out devices?

Haha my boobs are small enough already, I dont need any help working them out (:

[tsh3406]

Sooo, hooking booster cables up to your nipples; Wierd fetish, or the new thing in home work out devices?

Haha my boobs are small enough already, I dont need any help working them out (:

Shut. Up. Tim..... just walk away....

[Ratticis]

[Scrappy]

Short answer: complete aftnd utter waste of money.

Then I'd like to hear the long answer please.

I can't see why it would not work in the same way as the bike. Electrical impulses will cause the muscles to contract, thus, exercising them.
This type of thing is great for working muscles that you have no control over as it activates the muscle without any message being sent from the brain. But if your trying to regain function you need to be sending signals back and forth between brain and muscle in order to repair the damaged nerves.

Easy fix is to work with the machine. Instead of sitting idly while the machine does the work you need to be trying to actively engage the muscles at the same time. Just think back to before the accident and imagine flexing the muscles.

I only skimmed the link you posted so do not know if the belt works in short or long bursts but short is best. Long bursts are good for strengthening but at this stage you just need to be switching the muscle on and off as many times as you can. 10 seconds is good.

Oh, yes it will help with spasms, again, just like the FES bike..



Good luck..

So did the belt work I'm also interested in tryin it

[mamabas]

Either one you decide to go with be careful,I got awful burns from a walk-aide for dorsalflexation
and also e-stem. If I have any E-stem I can't use the sticky gel pads, they use cloth pouches dipped in water. Because I can't feel the impulses,you end up burned before you know it.

[Cathelena]

I have tried the ab belt and had no success whatsoever, but then i am a complete injury. I dony see any reason why they would not work on an incomplete injury, and at the very least are worth a try