Soon you can use your mobile phone as an Abtronic! FITsociety, together with researchers from MIT, developed a way to turn your mobile phone into an ‘Abtronic’! Training your abs has never been easier.
Abtronic function FITsociety app
Training your abs has never been easier. You open the FITsociety app, (for iPhone or Android), start the EMS function, and place your phone or tablet on your stomach. The electrical stimuli then cause the abdominal muscles to contract with optimal intensity. Together with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), FITsociety has been working on a method to use the hardware of your mobile phone for Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) for the past two years. Last week, we conducted the first successful test.Training abs with Electrical Muscle Stimulation
The principle of EMS has been around for decades but became particularly known in 2001 with the introduction of the Abtronic. We had been researching the value of EMS for some time. EMS works based on electrical stimulation that causes the muscle fibers to contract. Normally, the brain does this via the nervous system. If you can train muscles by controlling them through the brain, why couldn’t this be done with electrical stimulation? Studies have shown promising results for EMS as an easy and safe way to train muscles [1]. However, we did not see these results in practice with devices like the Abtronic [2]. Our mission, which we accepted two years ago, was therefore to identify the cause of these different results. What were the technical differences between EMS as used in successful studies and the less successful commercial equipment? By answering that question, we were able to determine the correct specifications for successful application of EMS. We could have developed our own commercial device that works. However, we decided to investigate whether there was a smarter solution. After all, the Abtronic and imitations did not deliver what they promised. We do not want to associate our solution with that. Besides, it’s not 2001 anymore. We were barely brainstorming for 5 minutes when someone asked:“Can’t we use the mobile phone?”Everyone agreed it was a brilliant question. We also immediately agreed that smarter minds should answer that question. That’s how we ended up at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), one of the world’s most renowned technical universities. There, we found two students who saw an interesting graduation assignment in our project, Avril Pirmas and Narre Blázen. Within a year, Avril and Narre devised a method to turn a mobile phone into an EMS device. Then they needed another half year to make the function more energy-efficient. In the first attempts, the mobile phone’s battery was completely drained in 5 seconds. It has now been increased to half an hour. In the current version of the software, we also place the mobile phone on the charger when we activate the app. However, we hope to further increase efficiency because this will make practical use much easier.
Currently only available for iPhone and iPad
Currently, the EMS function only works with mobile phones running on IOS. Initial tests with mobile phones running on Android resulted in multiple exploded batteries. Further research will have to determine if and when we can also perform EMS on those mobile phones. The current software works with iPhones and iPads. iPads have an advantage in training abs due to their size, as they can cover a larger area. Especially the iPad Pro has proven to be very effective as it can cover all muscle bellies of the abdomen.This effect can also be achieved by opening the app on multiple iPhones.
Not only for the abs
The smaller size of the iPhone can also be an advantage. With EMS, you can train more than just abs. With the iPhone, you can target other muscles like the arms and legs very specifically, which is more difficult with an iPad. The iPad (especially the Pro) can, however, be easier to train the glutes with. Apple recommends a maximum body weight of 100 kilograms for this.Available soon
We are currently in discussions with Apple to get the new version of the FITsociety app with EMS approved in the App store. For this, we are mainly looking at methods to ensure safe use. We are currently developing a way to lock the function when you hold it near your head. So for now, you still train your abs in the old-fashioned way. Of course, we also have many exercises for this in the app. Download the FITsociety app for iPhone here Download the FITsociety app for Android here Sources- Karatzanos E, Gerovasili V, Zervakis D, et al. Electrical muscle stimulation:an effective form of exercise and early mobilization to preserve muscle strength in critically ill patients. Crit Care Res Pract. 2012;2012:432752. doi:10.1155/2012/432752
- Porcari JP, McLean KP, Foster C, Kernozek T, Crenshaw B, Swenson C. Effects of electrical muscle stimulation on body composition, muscle strength, and physical appearance. J Strength Cond Res. 2002 May;16(2):165-72. PubMed PMID: 11991766.
