I have asked them – no response yet. 

It’s interesting that they say “slowly releases them over a period of time.” All the video’s I’ve seen of the Marc Pro in action don’t seem to release the muscles slowly. The contractions seem to “look” the same as those created with a TENS unit. These are the things that spark some questions and have started myself and a few friends thinking about the detailed differences.

It’s probably more than we need to know – but we’re geeks in multiple senses; numbers, statistics, physics, biology and physiology. So we enjoy learning this kind of stuff- especially when it involves investing a lot of money. We don’t mind doing it, we just want to know all the in’s and out’s before purchases near the $1k mark start to happen.

I’ll be sure to post any response I get from them on here.

Here’s the response I got from Marc Pro –

Looks like you might be able to get the same results from a TENS unit – depending on the settings available on it.

A
TENS device is typically used at higher frequencies where a constant
“buzzing” feeling is delivered as opposed to individual muscle
contractions. That is desirable for the cleared indications of a TENS
device. Depending on the device it is possible
to lower the frequency to a point where “pumping type” muscle
contractions might be obtained. To move nourishment and waste, you
definitely want muscle pumping (though as you point out that is not an
indication of TENS devices).

Various
TENS devices have various technical limitations, but there are some
commonalities. Because of the very basic square (on or off) waveform, it
is common for the signal to get quite uncomfortable when turned very
high; and without turning it very high the contractions are not strong
enough to move a significant amount of nourishment and waste. Again we
don’t blame the TENS devices; they were not intended to be muscle
stimulators. The higher voltage and harsher signal typically created by a
TENS will often start to cause muscle fatigue after extended periods of
use. This is also common with many cleared muscled stimulators. This is
not a problem when trying to tone or re-educate muscles (which is the
most common use of muscle stimulators); however, fatigue is obviously
contradictory to the recovery goals of Marc Pro.

Simply
stated, what makes Marc Pro’s technology unique is that we’re able to
get a muscle contraction that is as strong and typically stronger than
any other TENS or cleared muscle stimulator, but do so without causing
any fatigue to the muscle. This makes us poor at trying to build muscle
(what other products often try to do, but we don’t believe in much), but
makes us really good at recovery. Our unique waveform, lower voltages,
lower frequencies and very long pulse duration all contribute to this
strong, yet non-fatiguing contraction. Check out the “Marc Pro
Technology and How It Is Different” tab on the following page of our
website to read some more details: http://www.marcpro.com/how-it-works

If you have any further questions, feel free to email us at [email protected]

Nice! Thanks Kaitlin.

I love that there are people out there starting to research these kinds of things.

I know there’s always a huge shock to the community when you deliver a statement such as “don’t use ice for inflammation/injuries”. But having products like this with extensive research to back it up is exactly what people need, especially when there is no research supporting the “norm” or standard protocols that we’ve all always done – like icing.

I did end up buying it. Honestly though, I’m not completely sold that it helps. 

I have tried to adjust pad placements, and I bought some of the gel which made a big difference. 

Definitely using it for plenty of time.

I’ve done some recording of my jumping and shared with my PT’s here in town – they really didn’t seem to be able to help. Unfortunately most of my recovery has been due to me taking up physiology and biomechanics as a hobby and then implementing what I learn in my training, my competition, and when I do yoga.

I really wish this town had better movement specialists – but I’m stuck relying on friendly professionals out of state that don’t mind talking through this stuff with me.

Also, I wish there were better resources for the Marc Pro.

Especially when it comes to different pad placements and experimentation. Haven’t seen a whole lot on youtube, and the marc pro website is pretty limited from what I could tell a couple months ago.