Say goodbye to strenuous, time-consuming workouts.

That’s what the makers of abdominal workout devices would like you to believe, at least.

Abdominal workout products such as Ab Energizer, AbTronic and Fast Abs are touted as being able to tone muscles and shed pounds.

These abdominal devices use electronic muscle stimulation (EMS), which sends electronic impulses to the muscles that cause them to contract and relax.

Warren Franke, associate professor of health and human performance, said he is not sold on the devices.

In order for them to be effective, they’d have to produce maximal contractions, Franke said.

The abs would have to be “strongly stimulated,” which Franke said he believes would be too uncomfortable to the users of these devices.

Ab Energizer makes a different claim, however.

“Ab Energizer is the new electronic exerciser created to work your ab muscles, glutes, thighs and back without even breaking a sweat,” according to the Ab Energizer Fitness Web site.

The site also states the Ab Energizer is “the simplest, easiest and most comfortable toning device ever.”

Users are advised to start out easy. According to the instructions on the site, “As the days go by, increase intensity to a comfortable level for you. In just a couple of weeks you will look better and feel great about yourself.”

“Maybe if it was set at the strongest setting it could work,” Franke said. “I wouldn’t waste my money on one.”

Rusty Naber, fitness director at Ames Racquet and Fitness Center and a certified personal trainer, agreed.

In order to increase strength effectively, muscles need a full range of motion, Naber said.

“The EMS devices allow no range of motion,” Naber said. “When they are used, muscles contract at one spot. These devices wouldn’t be as effective as other abdominal exercises that allow a full range of motion.”

“This is a temporary solution to a permanent problem,” Naber said. “What’s more important is a sensible diet.”

Brad Petersen, sophomore in history, owns the AbTronic and said it works well. Joel Vause, sophomore in finance, has used Petersen’s AbTronic.

“When I did use it . it did seem to work,” Vause said. “I could feel it in my abs the next day.”

Mechanically, however, Petersen’s AbTronic had its share of problems. Peterson said he and his friends used the device so often it broke.

Vause said the AbTronic made “a small difference,” but that he would not consider buying one of his own.

Petersen said he would not consider buying another AbTronic because of its price and mechanical problems. He said he would consider buying a less expensive model, however.

Jim Nespor, chief physical therapist and athletic trainer at Cyclone Sports Medicine, 132 Lied Recreation Center, said he recommends the devices to his injured patients.

“The research is clear – EMS will help bring a dehabilitated muscle back to its normal state,” Nespor said.

Actually strengthening a normal muscle with the use of such a device “just doesn’t happen,” Nespor said.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse, measured the effects of EMS on 29 college-aged volunteers over a period of eight weeks, according to an article in ACE FitnessMatters Magazine.

In the end, the magazine said the team received some “not-so-shocking results.”

The study, which was administered for the American Council of Exercise, showed no significant difference in body weight, body fat percentage, strength or overall appearance after the use of EMS, according to the article.

Dr. John Porcari, lead researcher of the study, said in the magazine that “any potential strength benefits are likely to be isometric, and therefore, probably have little practical significance or carryover benefit in the real world.”

The Fast Abs Web site said the device cannot substitute for eating a healthy diet and exercising 3-4 times a week: “No, Fast Abs is not as good as exercising 4 days a week, but it is probably the next best thing you can find to give you an extra boost.”