Originally Posted by Rocco25
Hello Kyrpa et al.First of all I would like to thank you for the huge amount of information you share with us. It is really impressive what has been done in this (and other) threads. I am convinced that your research will go into the history of PE. Many thanks for that.
After reading your thread (and I certainly didn’t catch it all), I started using ultrasound. At first I had an odyssey with a Spanish device (Weelko) that was specified with 3 W/cm^2. After I wrote to the manufacturer, it was clear to me why I have only small successes. The device brings only 0.5 W/cm^2. This is a cosmetic device and afterwards I read (here in the thread) that these devices do not correspond to our desired performance class.
First I started with vacuum, which ended in disaster (I have no experience with vacuum ==> blisters).
Finally I built a Bib myself out of spruce/fir. A mixture of Bib and Lengthmaster :) .
Using pulleys under my desk, I attached a bucket of rocks to create the desired force (30 min tension relaxation from 1 kg ascending to 2 kg, then 25 min US at 3.5 kg, plus 10 min cool down at 3.5 kg).
I fired the dorsal side with the transducer and also used an IR lamp from above (distance 20 cm). I guess that’s where my elongation came from despite the 0.5 W/cm^2
After 42 days (25 on-days) I bought I-TECH Mio-Sonic - ultrasound handheld device, which is pretty much the same as the recommended device here (1.6 W/cm^2). Unfortunately, since the I-TECH also has a temperature sensor, it shuts down intermittently under IR after a few minutes.
Source: Ultraschalltherapie Handgerät für zu Hause - 1MHz + 6.4Watt
Unfortunately, I could not improve the strains, they started to fall. So after 58 days (36 on-days) I decided to go into a Decon break. I will do 4 - 6 weeks of mid-EG jelqs (25 min under IR), then go full decon for 3 to 5 weeks.
I am worrying all the time how to continue as I am not happy with the results. And now we come to the quoted post of yours.
There has been a lot written in the thread about US pads, and I’m wondering why no one (maybe I read over it) has considered gel pads yet.
I have ordered these:
Kalt-warm Kompresse 8x13 cm 1 St | Delmed
I have done both variations:
1. Gel pad ventral, US dorsal.
2. Gel pad dorsal, US ventral
Since I did these trials after about 45 days (see above), I’m not sure if the results are any good. In any case, I couldn’t see much difference, but unfortunately I couldn’t reach the targeted 3% either.
In the two months of US I was able to gain 8 mm BPFSL. BPEL growth is in total 2 mm despite 20 min Jelq after each US application. This is - compared to the other results here - very disillusioning.
At the end of January 2021, I would like to start again with US and be perfectly prepared. Based on your immense wealth of experience, I would like to hear your opinion. I have considered the following options:
A. Gel pad ventral, US (1 MHz, 1.6 W/cm^2) dorsal
B. Gel pad dorsal, US (1 MHz, 1.6 W/cm^2) ventral
C. I noticed that the Delta machine is now available in Germany. If I am willing to invest another 210 €, I could use variant A with 3 MHz and 2 W/cm^2.
What is your opinion about the options? Or do you have any better idea?
I am very much looking forward to your answer and would like to thank you very much!
Kippes & Thanks
Rocco
Zum Wohl Rocco,
Thank you for acknowledging this work of mine. For me it is a great pleasure guys like you studying it taking it to their own hands to bring some further information to develop these things.
Seems like you have earned some valuable lessons already about the application.
The performance class of the equipment being one and the hanger setup made on your own tells me something about the mentality I believe we share.
You had some gains at least so you are on your way already, so I am confident you will make it happen with better rate in the future.
The fact that the strain percentage starting to descend at approximately two months point does not come as a surprise, as the trend has been recognized in several cases already.
That being the case with you despite even not having tremendous strain percentages, gives us more signs it being the very nature of the tissue we are elongating, not necessary the consequence of the method in use. That to me come as a further evidence of the periodization being justified not to adapt the tissue resisting further elongation.
If sticking with the setup, your results should be amplified by having the process perfectly tuned.
I will chew some aspects in general before answering the actual questions.
You have a perfect opportunity to bring the hanger setup another step further.
It is easily tunable to stress relaxation setup with using simple method to lock the strain after the load has been applied.
You can simply use any ordinary bar clamp to fix the hanger cable to the edge of the desk after the load has been applied and the shaft is tensioned.
Then release and reload it at least once for each load increment you make.
Zaphod1 showing the way in my log. He has made it happen with IR only with some decent results using the protocol.
IMG_4838.JPG
I am not recommending anyone to blindly increase loading because it could be unnecessary and counterproductive in some cases.
It is rather easy to make sure if the load you are using for the first phase is either too low or too much. Find the threshold load and ride on the sweetspot.
I have been encouraging to make any decisions by testing the necessary loading, not copying it from anyone else.
Make a simple test by increasing the load in 0.5 kg steps every 10 minutes and measure the BPFSL. You can find that the strain increases to certain load and any further increase won’t be giving any additional elongation.
You can find the threshold loads for the maximal strain available within the realms of the particular method. Several guys already taken this test and in general the average being that 2.5 kg being the maximal load giving the best strain in the timeline of 30 minutes to 60 minutes. If the threshold load is lower, then even better.
After finding the best load for you, optimizing the hang/ stretch with the stress relaxation method you are on your way to best available strain possible in the given time.
Applying the US from the ventral site you can also avoid the IR causing the safety turn off at least some degree.
“A. Gel pad ventral, US (1 MHz, 1.6 W/cm^2) dorsal
B. Gel pad dorsal, US (1 MHz, 1.6 W/cm^2) ventral”
Depending if you use the gel pad as a stand off adjusting the penetration dept or as ultrasound phantom at opposite site to apply side.
In your setup it is crucial to use the pad on the dorsal site when applying the transducer at the ventral side.
This will eliminate unwanted reflections from the wavefront reaching the skin-to- air boundary.
The pad allows the wave front travel through the shaft making the heating substantially better.
The difference is huge. Like igigí already suggested using the method I have made all my gains as well is he recently, the shaft laying on the top of the thigh, OTL hanging the problem is already solved.
I used ultrasound disposal pads and latter the medical gelatin with the extender setup.
Placing the pads on dorsal site, applying the US below the shaft, at the ventral side the heating experience was almost as good. I will run some temperature monitoring tests later with the setup to make sure.
Additionally using the pad between the shaft and the transducer as a standoff, the penetration depth can be adjusted. Few percent of the intensity is lost in the pad though.
Tutt used it like that and he had some indications the heating being better tolerated and the effectivity being just fine.
“C. I noticed that the Delta machine is now available in Germany. If I am willing to invest another 210 €, I could use variant A with 3 MHz and 2 W/cm^2.”
I am not keeping a track of all the equipment used or available. Some have used Delta machines without complaints but at least one did have very poor results and purchased another machine.
The problem with all Indian and Chinese machines is that the suppliers don´t provide the necessary information every decent manufacturer should have.
The BNR, beam non-uniformity ratio, telling all you need to know about the transducer quality.
I would ask the sellers and if they cannot give it then no purchase either. If the value is 5 or 5:1 or smaller ratio then the machine is at least decent or good.
Using the same transducer for 1 MHz and 3 MHz the BNR for the latter is usually substantially worse.
Other thing is the intensity if the maximal intensity claimed is for the pulsed mode (duty < 100%) or continuous (DUTY cycle 100%).
There have been many models in the market said to have 3.0 w/cm^2 intensity, but the reality is that it is for lower duty cycle percentages, for continuous form of 100% duty only 2.0 w/cm^2.