Richard Virenque’s performance during stage 12 of the 1997 Tour de France is a striking example of placebos’ effects on our physical performance. He asked his physiotherapist, Willy Voet, to inject him with a miracle drug that could give him an edge over his rival, Jan Ullrich. Indeed, Virenque went toe-to-toe with Ullrich, coming behind him by only 3 minutes. But unbeknownst to him, Voet swapped out the miracle drug with a glucose solution at the last minute; there was nothing but sugar in it. Read full article here
Health
Electrical Muscle Stimulation Takes The Work Out Of Your Workouts
Growing stronger and losing weight without putting in the effort seems like a fairytale, right? Electrical muscle stimulation might make the dream come true. During EMS, a full-body suit sends out electric charges that stimulate your muscles as if you’ve actually worked out. Older people, in particular, are reaping the benefits. Since they can’t do traditional strength training anymore, EMS is a viable alternative that keeps them healthy and strong. Some evidence suggests that the benefits go beyond strength training; EMS seems to promote cell growth and slow down the ageing process! Read full article here