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* '''Does Increase [[Muscle Recruitment]]. '''Studies indicate that EMS increases muscular recruitment and that this may be the underlying mechanism for some of the strength gains<ref name="EMSGond05"/><ref name="EMSMaff01"/><ref name="EMSMart93"/><ref name="EMSRecruitment"/>.
* '''Does Increase Blood flow.''' EMS can increase the flow of blood to a muscle<ref name="EMSZico95"/><ref name="EMSBrod11"/>. (Lower frequencies of around 7-9Hz seem to be optimal<ref name="EMSBrod11"/>.)
* '''Does Not Reduce Weight.''' EMS does not help with weight reduction or fat loss<ref name="EMSFda"/><ref name="EMSPorc05"/>. In 2002 the FTC charged three companies with false claims about weight loss [[Weight Loss]] from EMS devices<ref name="EMSFtc"/>.
* '''Can Cause DOMS.''' It's not a surprise given that EMS is a form of strength training, but EMS can cause [[Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness]]<ref name="EMSCauseDOMS"/>. (EMS may also help relieve DOMS - see below.)
* '''Endurance - Unclear'''. They are few studies on the use of EMS for endurance. A study of sedentary subjects showed a 10% increase in [[VO2max|V̇O<sub>2</sub>max]]<ref name="EMSBane05"/>, but this study used an unusually large level of EMS over an unusually large area. I found no studies of endurance benefits for trained athletes. A study did show a doubling of the number of abdominal curls that could be performed after EMS training<ref name="EMSPorc05"/>, but this is not "endurance" in the sense a runner would mean.
* Do not apply to the chest area if you have any heart conditions.
* If you have a pacemaker, do not use EMS anywhere on your body.
* Do not apply EMS to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carotid_sinus Carotid sinus] area of the neck, as this could affect heart rate [[Heart Rate]] or blood pressure.
* Do not apply through your head.
* Do not apply through cancerous tissue.