If you have not heard of Functional Magnetic Stimulation before, this is a new therapy available at IYAC Aesthetic Clinic. It addresses an amazing array of ailments and can be something to consider for maintenance, as the body ages.
Known as the TESLA Former machine this magnetic stimulation is great for those of us who are lazy with exercise. To be fair even if you are an exercise freak it still does a lot more crunches than one could ever physically do in 30 minutes.
I experienced 4 sessions and felt fabulous as I sat in the chair that attended to my pelvic and lumbar areas. No change of clothes required. Just straight into a room and plonked myself into the TESLA Former chair.
I would liken the experience to a very deep massage. I felt invigorated as the machine worked on my lower back, an area for me that is usually sore as I sit through Zoom meetings all day.
At IYAC Aesthetic Clinic I knew I was in good hands, with practitioners who shower their tender loving care on their clients. While watching Gordon Ramsay churn out culinary delights I was transported to a different world and the best part was I was having a workout!
A great combo in my mind especially knowing how much this machine does to treat weakened pelvic floor muscles too! Anyone suffering the dreaded incontinence issue may want to try this treatment out.
As the pulsed magnetic field causes pelvic floor muscles to contract, it is suitable for all kinds of incontinence. The TESLA Former machine alleviates chronic pain in the pelvic region and lumbar spine too, which presents relief for many who suffer these ailments.
For others who may want to sculpt their buttocks, stomach, legs and arms this is also a non-invasive treatment. It merely requires lying on a bed with pads connected to the machine and specific parts of the body.
Here rapid changes of magnetic field intensity induce an electric current in the neuron to depolarize it. This leads to complete muscle contraction. Within 30 minutes of this treatment the machine did 50,000 contractions.
I was excited at the prospect of having been through a tough workout at the gym without having to physically do crunches!!! For this safe and painless treatment that has zero downtime, it certainly is a great option to consider.
Even if you would like to just strengthen your muscles this is great maintenance for the body and is cited as the major contributor to longevity. People with sports injuries and reproductive system disorders might want to check this out. It’s an accelerated road to health and wellbeing.
I had 4 sessions and felt my tummy muscles begin to firm. I know consistent sessions in the medium term will definitely give me good results, faster than if I had to work out in the gym.
Being a health freak I do know that diet and exercise go hand in hand and have already recommended close friends to this state-of-the-art machine. Perhaps you might like to try it too?
More About Maintaining Our Quality of Life
Ageing is inevitable, but that does not mean that we can’t age well. To age well means maintaining our quality of life, physically, mentally and emotionally.
The physical aspect can be challenging as we naturally lose 3-5 percent of muscle mass annually from our 30s and on average, adults lose a quarter of their muscle mass by 70 years of age. This age-related progressive, generalised loss of muscle together with a decline in strength, also known as sarcopenia, results in us being weaker and less active.
Sarcopenia can have serious consequences, such as impaired immunity, increased risk of infections, slowed healing, thinning of skin and difficulty in simple daily activities like climbing stairs or rising from a chair, increasing the risk of falls, fractures and even death.
Just because we lose muscle mass doesn’t mean that it is gone forever. Good nutrition and regular physical activity or muscle toning will rebuild muscles and slow down these changes, so that we can stay active and mobile for longer even through our twilight years.
Are you at risk of sarcopenia? Here are the 4 groups of D risk factors.
- Drugs: cholesterol drugs like statins or fibrates, steroids
- Diabetes mellitus
- Other Diseases: osteoporosis, knee osteoarthritis, other chronic organ diseases
- Deficiencies: vitamin D deficiency, poor dentition or oral health
The power of protein
A protein-loaded diet plays an important role in building muscle mass. When protein is consumed, the body breaks down protein into amino acids to create the simple building blocks of muscle.
In older adults, there is a higher requirement of daily protein at about 1g/kg body weight or more in order to maintain good muscle health. This is due to anabolic resistance, where a higher amount of dietary protein is required to stimulate an equivalent level of muscle synthesis of a young adult.
Animal sources (meat, eggs and milk) are considered the best sources of protein, as they provide the proper ratios of all the essential amino acids. Stay away from red and processed meat to avoid high levels of saturated fat and additives. Instead, opt for healthier choices, such as lean chicken, fish fillet, plain Greek yoghurt and beans.
When it gets challenging to have sufficient protein in a typical carbohydrate-heavy meal in Singapore, protein powders offer a convenient source of supplemental protein. One scoop of powder gives about 30g of protein and can be added to meals and shakes.
On the labels, look out for leucine, an amino acid which has been shown to be a potent muscle protein synthesis stimulator, especially when co-supplemented with vitamin D in older adults with sarcopenia.
Powering up
It’s not all about building mass. It’s equally important to build strength and power in the muscles. A good way to improve overall muscle power is to start with the legs and abdominal core, as they are primarily responsible for mobility and balance.
Doing quick movements against resistance can be an effective means of training power. An example is when rising from a seated position, try to do this quickly, without assistance. When climbing stairs, push off a step as fast as possible and increase the number of such steps with time.
Progressive resistance training is recommended as the first-line intervention for older adults with sarcopenia by the International Clinical Practice Guidelines for Sarcopenia. A program of at least three months duration with at least 2 sessions a week can lead to improvements in strength, gait speed and muscle mass. Get doctors and trained fitness personnel (physiotherapists, fitness trainers) to draw up a suitable and customised routine to prevent or treat age-related muscle loss.
Muscle fatigue during active voluntary repetitions can be a limiting factor in building up power. An option to overcome bodily limits is when muscle meets magnet. Functional Magnetic Stimulation (FMS) technology can deliver electromagnetic energy to directly induce contractions in muscles for effective strengthening and toning of core muscles in the abdomen and lower limbs.
At 50 000 muscle contractions in 30 minutes, this rate is far beyond what human capacity can do. In addition to a positive effect on muscle training, FMS technology improves blood circulation, reduces muscle inflammation and spasm and rehabilitates muscles and nerves.
Why not combine personal resistance training with FMS technology for a synergistic effect on muscle strengthening and toning?
Aging with grace and strength can start today.
Read here for more information on Tesla Body Gym by IYAC Medspa
