You love the results you’ve been getting from Manduu, but maybe you’re no longer getting that bitter-sweet soreness you felt after your first session.  This means your muscles are stronger and more powerful than they were before you began Manduuing. Are you ready to take it up a notch?

All Manduu clients begin working out with default settings on the E-Fit machine, much like your doctor prescribes an average dose of a new medication. And just as your doctor might adjust the dosage once she knows how you are reacting to a new medication, your trainer can adjust the settings on the E-Fit machine to better help you reach your fitness goals.

The Settings You Know

You are probably familiar with some of E-Fit’s settings:

  • First there’s the big dial, which turns everything up!
  • Then there are the micros, the smaller dials that control individual muscle groups like abs or quads.
  • Pulse duration controls the ratio of pulse to rest. All Manduu clients begin with the pulse on for four seconds and off for four second. By turning the duration up to six, eight, or even 10 seconds (the maximum), you can effectively put more workout time into your 15 minute session.

Meet the Other Settings

You probably aren’t familiar with frequency and pulse width. Pulse width is measured in microseconds and controls how deeply the electricity penetrates your muscle fiber.  A higher number means a longer pulse, which translates into greater depth of muscle penetration. A higher pulse width allows Manduu to work nearly 100% of muscle tissue, compared to the 65% your brain can reach.  Manduu clients start working out with an average pulse width, but this number can be turned up for a more challenging workout. Moving slowly during a workout will also help with penetrating deeper muscle tissue.

Frequency is measured in hertz. Working out with a low frequency will activate slow twitch muscle fibers, which are important for endurance, posture and standing. For example, someone who is training for a marathon or who struggles with back and joint pain may benefit from a lower frequency.

Higher frequencies work fast twitch muscle fibers. Fast twitch muscle fibers are important for sprinting and fast-paced (explosive) movements, like a golf or tennis swing.

We start every client at a mid-range default frequency, which helps build strength in both fast and slow twitch muscle fibers. But if your fitness goals lean more toward endurance or explosive movements, ask your trainer about adjusting this for you. You might also want to try alternating between low and high frequency workouts.

Speaking of that Bitter Sweet Soreness . . .

Your workout should be hard. Moving against the pulse should feel like moving through molasses or mud. But your post-workout soreness should not be incapacitating. If you’re really sore, over-the-counter medication may help.  But know this: aspirin and ibuprofen are anti-inflammatory medications and may actually counteract your workout, since muscle is built by breaking down and then rebuilding muscle tissue. By inhibiting the inflammatory response to broken down muscle tissue, these medications may interfere with the rebuilding process. Acetaminophen (like Tylenol) may be a better choice.

Remember, if it’s not challenging it won’t change you, so speak up! Our trainers are happy to answer any questions you may have about adjusting your workout to fit your needs.