Hi Alan,

We have used this technique for rehabilitation. I can spacifically remember having this type of therapy to increase blood flow to the appropriate area.

It was to help heal a haematoma in my quad alongside very hard massage therapy to break up the scar tissue and prevent calcification. (by a psychotic physio who i'm sure enjoyed putting us through pain, i think many rugby clubs have one!).

I am positive it did help although it had to be quite a strong pulse to get a good contraction of such a big muscle.

This will only apply to points 2 and 3.

Could this technique really have any impact on speed training/ strength /explosive power?

I cant see how EMS can enhance speed/power/strength of a muscle completing a specific sports movement such as a vertical jump. Power in its simplist form is speed x strength which for any given movement is velocity and joint angle specific. Without placing the appropriate muscle in these conditions will have limited effect if any. In high performance, there will be little use to supplement a non injured athlete with strength and power development.

For the prevention of injury, I cannot see how EMS would help. It is evident that developing physical characteristics (speed/strength/endurance/stability/mobility/flexibility/coordination/reactivity/propriocection) of the sport not only improve performance but also serve to reduce risk of non contact injuries. If FMS can effectly develop these characteristics with coordination, proprioception, stability and mobility being important in all other facets of physical development, then it would be effective but it does not. If anything it may impair the bodies natural synchronsis pattern of motor control over movements by isolating a small cross section of muscle fibres using an external medium to control the contraction. This to me seems ilogical for injury prevention.

I can see the use of it in low level rehab where a joint cannot rotate more than a given RoM or is immobile and to try to minimise atrophy but again this is a supplement not the main stay. Isometrics (yielding or MVC) maybe more beneficial.

It maybe useful in recovery enhancements if there was a need to have muscle contractions less than a given percentage of MVC but this can be achieved more effectively through movement aptitude and low level, low metabolic demand conditioning.

It has a place at some point in physical development if recovering from injury but would not use it as an alternative to physical conditioning nor believe it is the most effective way for any of the points listed in the original post.