TRUSCULPT FLEX: REDEFINING MUSCLE SCULPTING

Apart from giving strength for functioning in the environment, muscles create the weight that allows the joints to be used as effective levers and support the joints so forces are not exerted excessively on the delicate surfaces that allow gliding. In some cases such as the quadriceps and the knee joint, there is a beneficial relationship between muscle bulk and joint health that goes beyond our ability to explain in terms of physical science. Resting muscle tone holds the bones and the joints in the correct position to minimise forces applied to them and therefore reduces wear and tear. Because the muscles have resting tone the stronger the muscle and, the bigger the muscle bulk the better the support for the skeletal system. Having adequately developed muscles surrounding the spinal column reduces stress on the spine, and having the hip and shoulder girdle adequately developed reduces stress on the shoulders and hips. Strengthening the muscles of the lower leg and foot reduces the risk of ankle sprains and patellar dislocations with activity, and strengthening the abdominal muscles enables the abdominal wall to hold the organs in place more tightly which reduces the pull of the abdomen on the lumbar spine and shifts the centre of gravity closer to the spine which aids in balance.

TruSculpt Flex for muscle toning – why you should improve your muscles

Muscle tissue comprises around 40% of body weight and complements the skeleton in forming body structure. Healthy muscle bulk and functionality are vital for comfort and activity, and loss of muscle mass brings with it a myriad of problems. Muscles give support, blood supply, and therefore growth potential, and warmth to the tissues they surround and maintain joints and organs in the correct position

The generous blood supply to muscle allows for the growth of overlying or underlying tissues and for example, fat transfer for volume augmentation takes less successful in the absence of adequate underlying muscle.

Because the muscle is springy but strong it provides cushioning for the skin, preventing excess pressure on the skin from the bones when the body is resting on a surface so good muscle bulk reduces skin damage with pressure.

Muscles also produce most of the heat we use to maintain body temperature and use a large part of the oxygen and nutrition we consume.  Increasing muscle bulk increases metabolic activity and therefore assists with fat loss.

People can lose 3 – 8% of their muscle mass per decade after the age of 30.  Reduced muscle mass is considered a risk factor for physical disability, independent of age, ethnicity, obesity, socioeconomic status, morbidity, and health behaviors.

Skeletal muscles are divided into fast twitch and slow twitch fibres and can utilise both aerobic and anaerobic metabolism for ATP production.  Slow twitch fibres use primarily fatty acid oxidation and fast twitch use glucose oxidation.

Recent studies have shown that skeletal muscle secretes protein-based substances which have been called myokines, and these substances act like hormones on other tissues. They encourage lipolysis in visceral fat and work on signaling pathways involved in fat oxidation. In general, they are anti-inflammatory and assist the function of many other tissues so improve many health factors as well as comfort.  The bigger the muscle mass the more of these helpful substances are produced.

How TrueSculpt Flex Works:

Ordinary use of muscles allows fibres to be maintained but extra usage of the muscles puts strain on them, causing tiny amounts of damage, and the response of the muscles via satellite cell activation is to grow more nuclei, more myofibrils, and more myocytes. The local muscle damage causes the release of inflammatory cytokines and growth factors which activates the stem cells to create more muscle.  The individual muscle fibres hypertrophy in response to damage and the muscle with bigger and more numerous cells is then able to do more work.

This is achieved in part by normal activity but unfortunately, humans no longer perform all the normal activities they used to in order to survive day to day.  In order to grow tissue there needs to be adequate macro and micronutrients so diet with or without supplements is important.  Muscle function requires calcium, magnesium, potassium, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Iron, Beta Alanine, amino acids, in particular, glutamine and the branched-chain amino acids, fatty acids and glucose.

The repeated challenge to muscles enhances their growth. They grow in response to normal use, use under stress, and repetitive use and this can be achieved in many ways. Muscle growth is also affected by growth factors such as hormones as well as those released by trauma to the fibres.

There is a wealth of information available about how to use exercise and diet to build muscle but there are some practical difficulties with these methods for some people. These include time constraints, injuries, illnesses, cardiovascular or respiratory problems, and in many cases simply a disinclination to exercise.

Stimulating the muscle by delivering current directly to the muscle group intended to contract will cause the same microtears that exercise causes.  Delivering the optimum power and frequency and duration of contraction can build maximum muscle with minimal risk of discomfort or injury.  

Muscles produce lactate with contraction as a result of glycolysis and glycogenolysis. Lactate can be converted to glycogen or used as a substrate for aerobic energy production by muscle but the undissociated molecule of lactic acid causes pain and interferes with the positive effect of growth factors and cytokines.   Lactate accumulates when oxygen is less available and some of it converts to lactic acid which causes pain. Ensuring that the muscle contraction is the right power and length will minimize the lactic acid buildup that tends to limit muscle contraction tolerance.

Personal trainers have devised programs to work muscles as hard as possible with the least damage and discomfort but without expert advice, it is common for people to fail to optimise muscle growth with exercise.

TruSculpt flex uses a unique Multi-Directional Stimulation (MDS) technology to deliver three treatment options by replicating intensified crunch, squat, and twisting actions.  Research has guided Cutera to program TruSculpt Flex in such a way as to maintain the contraction of the muscle for the maximal time without generating lactic acid.  Short forceful contractions will use different fibres to low-grade prolonged contractions and it is useful to grow both types of muscle fibres.  Obviously the longer a person exercises a muscle the more stimulation the muscle will have and potentially the more growth but it is known that tissue building occurs during rest phases so a balance must be struck. Researchers have worked hard to determine the best balance of rest and exercise that is practicable and applied this to the TruSculpt Flex programs.

Electrical muscle stimulation is the evocation of muscle contraction using electrical impulses.  It provides current at a frequency of up to 30mA designed to reach the membrane action potential of the muscle and cause it to depolarise.  The current is delivered in pulses that are the right length of time to cause contraction of the muscle for long enough to stimulate it and cause microtears, without allowing significant lactic acid buildup.  Stimulation is repeated after a suitable rest interval.

The fibres of the muscles are contained within a continuum of connective tissue sheaths and conduct impulses so that separate muscles can still work as a unit so the TruSculpt Flex electrodes can work a whole muscle group if placed correctly.

Regular contractions of muscles are necessary to continue muscle growth and there is a minimum frequency of exercising a muscle that is required to maintain it at its bulk so maintenance treatment or gym work is advisable after the initial course of Flex.

With external electrical stimulation, unlike brain-led, voluntary muscle contraction, large superficial fatigueable motor units are recruited before smaller, more sustainable motor units, and synchronous firing of motor units occurs, causing a quick onset of fatigue of the muscle.  This pushes it to its limit faster than voluntary exercise can, which means the muscle grows faster with electrical stimulation than it does with voluntary exercise.

TruSculpt Flex is the ideal external electrical muscle stimulation because it applies an even distribution of current along the length of the muscle and includes variations in type of stimulation in order to deliver all types of muscle exercise.

HOW IS TRUSCULPT FLEX DIFFERENT FROM OTHER MUSCLE SCULPTING PROCEDURES?

The trusculpt flex has 4 sets of electrode groups, each with 4 probes, designed to treat pairs of muscles on the lower trunk or limbs.

Because the probes work in pairs it is possible to place them such that you can control bilateral muscles together, or one side of the body as a group.

For example, the 4 probes of one circuit can be applied to both rectus abdomini, or to one side of the body on the rectus and the obliques.

The programs mimic low-grade exercise, moderate exercise, and a strong workout so it is possible to start the patient on a gentle program and over the sessions increase the intensity.

Which mode to start with depends on the state of the patient’s muscles at the outset and their tolerance for muscle discomfort.

The power control has such a high range that most people would not get past 50% so even elite athletes can be challenged on this machine.

The operator is able to choose the placement of electrodes to stimulate the muscles that require to be treated by asking the patient to contract the muscle, finding the direction and bulk of the muscle visually and by palpation, and placing one electrode near each end of the muscle.

TruSculpt Flex is;

• Faster – Up to eight muscles or muscle groups can be treated in each 15-minute session.

• Safer – The unique truControl™ technology provides consistent stimulation through targeted, selective, and customisable delivery with less energy needed.

• Effective – Three treatment mode options are available to customise the results to each patient’s goals.

• Muscle thickness increase – Clinical studies have shown an average of 30% increase in muscle mass.

• Versatile – Best of all, we can personalise the treatment for different fitness levels, body shapes, and goals.

Your truSculpt flex treatment consultant can provide all the details you need to make an informed decision about the procedure. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation!