“I wish I would have had this when I was 25. Maybe Kelly Slater would be less a few world titles.” Photo: Instagram @sunnygarcia.
When it comes to fitness, there are very few new pieces of technology that actually improve performance at a direct level. Sure, apps and fitness wearables can help you get in better shape over time. However, that’s because they address secondary issues like scheduling, motivation, and information. Yes, addressing these issues can help you improve, but that doesn’t allow you to accomplish anything you couldn’t on your own.
Compex is different. Compex deals with performance at its core. The muscle stimulation device helps you build strength, extend endurance, and improve recovery in ways you would not be able to achieve on your own. The device sends electronic pulses to your nerve fibers in order to create involuntary muscle contractions. While a normal workout might engage 30% of your muscle fibers, while using the Compex, you can engage up to 100% of your muscle fibers. This includes both slow twitch muscle that provides endurance and fast twitch muscle that creates power and explosiveness. Overall, this makes your workout significantly more efficient and effective.
Compex helps you make the most of your workouts. Photo Courtesy of Compex.
But don’t take my word for it; take Sunny Garcia’s instead. I spoke with the Hawaiian surfing world champ turned triathlete for the better part of an hour, and he couldn’t say enough about Compex.
Garcia trains like an animal. A normal routine for him involves waking up, putting in 4 hours on his bike or bike trainer, and then move straight on to an hour run. There’s nothing casual about that workout schedule. However, Garcia shared, “With the Compex on, I can do a half an hour on the bike and a half an hour run, and when I’m done I’m sore. It feels like I did a full blown workout.” See, the Compex’s strength mode can be activated while you’re relaxing on the couch or while you’re in the gym. If you use it , you’ll still get a darn good workout, but if you use it while exercising, your body receives the benefits of a far more intense workout. Half an hour will leave you as tired as 4 hours on the bike.
“I’ve been training for triathalons for the last couple of years, and even with that training, I haven’t made any gains. I haven’t gotten any stronger. I’ve stayed at same speed for almost everything. But even with just the past couple weeks of using the Compex, I can feel how much stronger I’ve gotten. The spooky thing is, I’m just learning how to use it.” Compex has helped Garcia work past the plateau that almost all elite athletes experience at some point or another. Compex has allowed Garcia to reach a level of strength that conventional training couldn’t.
Being able to train harder has plenty of benefits. For one, it allows an athlete to spend less time working out. For professional athletes, and especially professional surfers, time is key. There’s always another plane to catch, or better yet, another wave to surf. Compex allows the athlete to perform quality strength training without putting in hours and hours at the gym.
The Compex in action. Photo Courtesy of Compex.
Another benefit, is that fewer hours training translates into less impact on the joints. Garcia explains that, “I think using this will be good for any athlete, and it’s especially good for guys like me that are getting old. You can exercise and not pull all that unneeded stress on the joints, and you still gain muscle strength and recovery. You don’t have to train so hard and beat your body up. You’re gaining all the things you would gain from training really hard without putting all that stress on the joints.”
Although great for older athletes, this technology can be even more valuable for younger athletes. Especially in surfing, kids that are 16 or 17 years old already have an incredible amount of skill. What they lack is the physical strength to compete against more mature surfers. Until the body is finished developing, strength training with weights can be really harmful for young athletes.
However, Compex allows for younger athletes to get stronger without compromising their bodies long-term. Garcia commented, “I can only imagine what will happen when you get ahold of some of these younger athletes and train them to use (the Compex) in the proper way… How much better they’ll be and how much longer their careers will probably last because they won’t have to beat themselves up.”
Garcia even wishes he could have had access to this kind of technology when he was younger: “I wish I would have had this when I was 25. Maybe Kelly Slater would be less a few world titles.”
Despite his competitiveness, Garcia revealed, “Actually, I liked the Compex so much I went and got Kelly one and gave it to him…He’s not just a freak at surfing. His physical abilities are incredible. It will be interesting to see once I learn more and show him a few things, to see the gains and the things he’ll be able to do.”
Photo Courtesy of Compex.
Another thing to note about the Compex, is that there are different modes. Different models offer anywhere from 3 to 9 different modes per device. The active recovery mode included on all models has been a huge help to Garcia the past few months. “I’ve been using the muscle recovery. I broke my elbow over Christmas, and my arm still won’t go straight, so I’ve been using it to flush out all the bad blood.” The recovery mode clears lactic acid, improves blood flow, relaxes muscles, and enables a faster recovery from soreness and fatigue. Although helpful for injuries like Garcia’s, this mode is also just as great for recovering from a hard workout or a week of competition.
The Compex can also help the athlete bounce back quicker from injuries. Garcia has used his Compex to maintain his strength: “Because I couldn’t use my arm as much, I used the strength mode to keep my muscles from atrophying. I could work the muscle without flexing my arm. The other day, I was doing some pushups for the first time. For not having used my arm it felt pretty strong, even though I had a little bit of pain. My strength is still there in my arm.”
If you’re looking to supercharge your workout, give Compex a try. No matter your current level of fitness, it’s sure to help you reach the next level.
For more information, check out Compex USA.
