Nerve Stimulation with Firefly

What is Nerve Stimulation?

Nerve Stimulation involves the use of an electrical stimulus to mimic signals that occur naturally in the body. Signals in the body are sent from the central nervous system, to tell the muscles to contract.This is essentially what a nerve stimulation device is doing. The electrical signal is placed on your skin to stimulate a specific nerve. This causes the muscle, that specific nerve is responsible for, to contract.

How does it help recovery?

Causing a muscle to contract increases the blood flow to that area. For example, causing a muscle in the leg to contract will increase your blood flow through your legs and back up to your heart. Muscles require oxygenated blood to stimulate the repair process. Therefore, after a workout, in order to start repairing the muscle fibres, oxygenated blood is brought to the muscle area. Electrical stimulation allows for this to happen much faster and in turn, you recover at an increased rate.

Firefly

The Firefly is a nerve stimulation device used to enhance muscle recovery. It is a strip with a small device integrated into it that creates the electrical signal. The strip has a sticky surface to allow for it to be placed on your leg without moving. It is placed on your lower leg in order to line up to your peroneal nerve. Buttons on the firefly allow you to adjust the electrical signal and customise your recovery.

Here’s how you use the FireFly:

1. Peel off the protective covers from the back of the firefly
2. Place the firefly in line with your peroneal nerve, using the instructions for correct placement
3. Hold down the plus button until you see a flash
4. The nerve stimulation should then begin If placed correctly, the stimulus will activate your peroneal nerve to send a signal to your gastrocnemius (calf muscle)
5. This will cause a twitch in your lower leg, as your calf muscle contracts
6. The plus and minus buttons allow you to increase or decrease the stimulation
7. Place the Firefly knee straps over the top and recover on the go!

As your muscle contracts blood flow is increased allowing you to decrease the time you need to recover, allowing you to fit more workouts in your week.

Placing the Firefly

The importance of placement when it comes to using the Firefly cannot be overstated, but we are here to help! It must be placed on the peroneal nerve, but what does that mean?

The peroneal nerve can be found using these instructions:

1. Firstly find the lateral malleolus of the leg, this is the prominent bone on the outside of your ankle
2. Then take your finger directly upwards until you get to a prominent bone on the side of your knee joint, this is the head of the fibula
3. There are a number of dots on the Firefly strap, labelled the one pulse dot. This dot needs to be placed on the head of your fibula.
4. Once you have placed the one pulse dot in the correct place, wrap the straps around your leg to keep it in place
5. Then hold down the plus button for 3-5s The device should begin flashing as it turns on
6. Press the plus button to increase the intensity
7. If the Firefly is in the right place you will feel and see your calf muscle twitch as you turn up the intensity.

Get your Firefly today at RecoverFit.com.

FAQ’s

Does it hurt?

Using the Firefly should not hurt. However, it is a sensation that takes time to get used to. We recommend you start at a low intensity and increase where you feel comfortable.

Can anyone use nerve stimulation?

Nerve stimulation isn’t just for elite athletes. Anybody who wants to recover quicker and relieve muscle soreness should add nerve stimulation to their recovery routine.

What is a nerve?

A nerve is a bundle of fibres that allow your body to send and receive signals between the body and the brain.

How does it stick to your skin?

The side of the strap that adheres to your skin has a sticky layer. When the firefly arrives it has a protective layer to protect the adhesive strap, this protective layer should be reapplied following use of the firefly to protect the adhesive.

How much does muscle blood flow increase?

The Firefly can increase microcirculatory blood flow by up to 400%. The muscle contractions stimulated by the device cause an increase in blood flow similar to walking (up to 60%).

Can I use this on my arms?

No, the device has been made to stimulate the peroneal nerve. Therefore, it should not be used on any other part of the body.

How long does it last?

The Firefly has a battery life of up to 30 hours. Each firefly device delivers 6-12 recovery treatments (suggested recovery time of 2-4 hours based on training intensity).

How long should I wear a Firefly for?

It is recommended that nerve stimulation for warm up purposes should be around 30-60 minutes. However, it can be used for a longer period of time post workout (2-4 hours) based on intensity of exercise and travel time.

Can I use Firefly even though I have a pacemaker?

No, unfortunately it is not safe to use if you have a pacemaker. Before using the device please ensure you read the instructions for a full list of warnings and precautions. If you are unsure, please seek advice from a medical professional before using nerve stimulation.

Is it waterproof?

No, this product has not been designed for use in water.