How To Use Tens To Treat Back Pain & Shoulder Trauma
Well, this can happen to everybody, even the healthiest person is not immune from getting his or her arm or shoulder injured. But should this happen to you, there is no need to tolerate the pain. In case of an arm trauma, one electrode should be attached on the inside part of the wrist, while the other one should be located on the inner bicep. Use the second channel for the other two electrodes which should be placed on the inner elbow. If you experience pain in the shoulder, apply the pads around the area where it hurts, at a distance of 2 inches from each other.
If you sleep in the wrong position or have poor posture while sitting at your PC, you are likely to have neck pain which is also known as cervical pain. Is TENS treatment able to alleviate this kind of pain? Jordanian scientists have conducted a study that proves the efficacy of TENS as a treatment for neck pain. A group of patients suffering from musculoskeletal disorders was treated with TENS for an hour. The results showed that over 70% of the treated patients had gained significant improvement. However, the therapy proved to be most effective for patients with mild neck pain.
It is very important that you place the pads correctly. You should not stick them directly on the neck. Instead, locate them in the upper part of the back or on the shoulders in the area close to the neck. Position one electrode on each side of the area.
Setting The Frequency Or Pulse Rate
The frequency or pulse rate is the amount of electrical current felt in the skin for one second. The unit of measurement used is Hertz or Hz. The degree of pain relief may take place at different frequencies. For instance, patients suffering from acute pain can get the most relief between 80 to 120 Hz.
Chronic pain sufferers can take advantage of lower settings such as 2 to 10 Hz. This is enough to stimulate endorphin release. If you will use a mode setting with 35 to 50 Hz, you can effectively stimulate your muscles which result in relaxation.
For pulse width setting, it refers to the on period of the electrical current. Pain relief occurs at low to mid-time periods. To stimulate the muscles, you need longer pulse width in order to effectively reproduce muscle contraction. However, you can change the periods before setting the pulse so you achieve the right amount of pulses. Time periods are extremely small, they are measured in 1,000ths per second or microseconds .
Our Tens Unit Buying Guide
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation uses a battery-powered device to deliver quick electrical impulses to your nerves, muscles or joints. Youll get pads that stick to the body, which connect to electrodes that connect to a small device. Often this device has a screen, along with buttons or knobs, and the screen allows you to scroll through multiple settings to get the exact type of treatment you need.
A TENS device can sometimes be confused with an electronic muscle stimulator , which is designed to deliver relief to muscles. Before you pick out a TENS device, determine the specific type of pain you need to relieve. If you have nerve issues, there are TENS devices that focus on that, while still others are better for taking care of joint pain.
Ideally, youll check with a medical professional before beginning treatment using a TENS device. This is the case with anything you do that can directly impact your health. If your doctor currently has you under supervision, you should steer clear of TENS devices unless youve cleared it first. Although TENS devices are now widely available over the counter, a physician can guide you toward the best model for your unique needs.
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Using A Tens Unit For Knee Pain And Proper Placement Of The Electrode Pads
The knees are one of themost used joints in the body. They are used for all kinds of daily activities,including walking, running, climbing stairs, and getting in and out ofyour car. They are also responsible for carrying the weight of your body.
Unfortunately, as aresult of excessive use, trauma, or injury, its not uncommon for pain todevelop in the knees. When you experience knee pain, your life can be greatlyimpacted. Not only can it limit your mobility, but it can negatively impactyour well-being.
Causes of KneePain
There are several reasonswhy knee pain can occur. Some of the most common causes include:
Tendon Ruptures. This happens when the quadriceps and the patellartendons rupture either partially or completely.
Damage to the Meniscus. Injuries or trauma can cause apiece of the meniscus to tear off and float in the knee joint, causingsignificant pain.
Dislocation. A powerful blow to the knee can cause the lower leg tobecome completely displaced in relation to the upper leg. This can stretch andtear the ligaments, the arteries and the nerves. A dislocation is rare and isconsidered a limb-threatening emergency that requires immediate medicalattention.
Managing KneePain
In the most seriouscases, surgery may be required to fix the damage to the knee and ease the painthat damage causes. For those who do not require surgical treatment, a TENSunit can be used to help manage pain in the knees.
What is a TENSUnit?
How to Use a TENSUnit for Knee Pain
See Also:
Tens Unit Best Practices
Before the end of this article, its important to remind you to carefully read and follow the instructions outlined for your TENS unit.
If you are unsure about anything, consult a professional who will be better able to guide you.
Also, Medical News Today recommends that you refrain from using a TENS unit if you suffer from epilepsy, heart problems, or if you wear a pacemaker or any metal or electrical implant.
Additionally, if you are pregnant do not use the device on/around the abdomen or pelvic regions.
TENS units are not meant to treat every type of pain we can only speak to the ones outlined in this article.
Finally, make sure that you use the product as instructed so that you can get the best results from your TENS unit.
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Nursal Tens Unit Rechargeable Muscle Stimulator
Even though it doesnt come with a somewhat standard setup, this unit is particularly good at what its supposed to do. It comes with two different channels, one that can be attached to two different electrodes, and another that can manage as many as four. Therefore, you can make use of as many as 6 electrodes at the same time.
Furthermore, you will get two extra-large pads included in the package, which is an excellent bonus. A user-friendly and convenient carrying bag is part of the deal, as well. The unit is small and compact, so you neednt worry about it not being portable enough.
The most significant drawback that we have identified with regard to this product is that it tends to cost a pretty penny. This statement is even truer if you go through some of its competitors and look at their cost. Also, some customers have reported that if you drop the unit on the floor, it can break easily.
Pros
Should I Use Ice Or Moist Heat While Using The Tens Unit
The most common recommendation when combining pain modulating modalities is to use ice with TENS.
The typical parameters is to add a cold pack over the TENS electrodes for up to 15-minutes to reduce pain in a knee joint.
If you are sensitive to cold therapy and prefer heat, a warm compress or dry heat may be appropriate.
In this article researchers reviewed the difference between moist heat vs dry heat and found that:
It should be noted that moist heat had not only similar benefits of dry heat but in some cases enhanced benefits, and with only 25% of the time of application of the dry heat.
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How Long Does Tens Pain Relief Last
Some studies have suggested that the post-stimulation analgesic effects of TENS therapy can last anywhere from five minutes to eighteen hours. The pain levels of some patients dont return to those that they experienced before the therapy even after a whole day. It all depends on your body, how many times you use the device , and whether you suffer from chronic pain or not.
Things To Be Aware Of When Using A Tens Unit
- Your muscles may twitch when using the TENS unit at high-intensity levels.
- If irritation occurs, cease treatment and consult your doctor.
- Pain relief may not occur when initial treatment begins. It’s essential to start at a low-intensity level and continue to increase and change modes as needed.
- TENS units are not a cure for any physical ailment. They are a tool for pain relief. It’s best to continue any physical therapy already in place for treatment.
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Can I Use The Tens Unit While Exercising
Absolutely! A TENS unit can be used while performing most exercises including strength training, cardiovascular exercises, stretching and range of motion exercises, and more.
The primary concern of exercising while wearing a TENS unit includes getting the wires tangled and losing the stickiness of the electrodes due to perspiration.
Tens Machine For Back Pain
For better results, we recommend that you ask someone else to glue the pads to your lower back. Of course, you can do it yourself, but in this case, there will be no guarantee that you will do it accurately enough. So the pads should be located on either side of the area where you feel the pain. Keep in mind that the electrodes should be at least 2 inches apart, while the angle does not matter.
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How Does Tens Machine Work
How does it reduce pain? The thing is that our spinal cord has a neural mechanism that either blocks or let the signals from the brain pass through. This gate can be closed, open or partially open depending on the signal received. When you use iReliev TENS machine, the pulsation it emits becomes the only stimulus that is perceived by your brain, while the pain is not felt anymore.
At the same time, this process helps to increase the number of endorphins, which are natural chemicals produced by the central nervous system and in their effect resembling morphine. Endorphins block the sensation of pain and make the person feel happy. Actually, they work the same way as drugs do, but have the advantage of being harmless naturally released chemicals that do not cause dependence.
What Is Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Therapy
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is a therapy that uses low voltage electrical current to provide pain relief. A TENS unit consists of a battery-powered device that delivers electrical impulses through electrodes placed on the surface of your skin. The electrodes are placed at or near nerves where the pain is located or at trigger points.
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Best Tens Units Reviewed
- NEED PRESCRIPTION STRENGTH PAIN RELIEF? A TENS unit muscle stimulator and electric massager that provides pain relief, acts as a muscle massager or shoulder massager, provides carpal tunnel relief, and acts as a muscle relaxer
- OVER 1M TENS 7000 DEVICES SOLD: A consumer over the counter favorite back pain relief device and a leader in physical therapy equipment for providing immediate and lasting drug-free muscle pain relief from back pain, neck pain, tennis elbow, and bursitis
- Pain Relief Machine. The rechargeable electric muscle massager can stimulate the sensory nerves and muscles, activate specific natural pain gate mechanism, relax your body and have pain management anytime you feel the need.
- Up to 20 Modes. Pre-set modes offer you hammering, kneading, shiatsu and more choices to help relieve pain associated with aching and fatigue muscles in the shoulder, low back, knee from exercise, normal household or work activities.
- 2 CHANNEL / 4 ELECTRODE PADS – each channel’s intensity can be controlled separately
- EASY TO USE – BEST for PAIN RELIEF, Relaxation, Reflexology and Acupressure
The Best Tens Machine Reviews
When your back and neck hurt, when you regularly have migraines and headaches, when you suffer from arthritis, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, have muscle spasms, when you experience pain while undergoing postoperative or injury rehabilitation, at some point it starts to drive you crazy. I guess you have heard about transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation better known as TENS. Now, lets see what health conditions can be treated with this kind of machine, how should you use it correctly, and where to place electrodes. We have also examined customer feedback to learn whether electrical stimulation is really able to reduce pain.
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Tens Therapy For Knee Pain Relief
When it comes to finding the best treatment for knee pain, it can be difficult to find a treatment that works for you. While you could use over the counter pain medications, excessive pain killer use can damage your liver after a while. This makes treating chronic knee pain difficult over a long period of time. Luckily, TENS therapy devices from HiDow are a drug-free way to alleviate knee pain. But can you use TENS therapy for knee pain relief effectively?
Best Tens Unit Reviews Consumer Reports
Pain is part of our lives. We move a lot of times when working out, walking, with our vehicles, motorcycles or bicycles. During these activities, we may be involved in minor or major accidents.
Rehabilitating our bones and muscles take time and the pain is excruciating! I can relate. That time I dislocated two spinal disks around a year ago, and it was not the best thing. I couldnt move, bend or sit. Going to the bathroom involved crying and screaming. Getting the appointment for a physiotherapist or a chiropractor can take time. Lucky for me mine took three days.
Now, this is where the most powerful tens unit comes in. TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. It has been proven to stimulate muscles by providing heat across the skin to the affected regions that help in healing. Theyre also very small, and you can easily carry them around.
Most of them are OTC, but you may need to consult your doctor first in serious cases like pregnancy or heart conditions. your doctor first in serious cases like pregnancy or heart conditions.
Taking pain meds can become costly and most if not all of them have side effects. Although the Tens Unit will not cure your ailment, it will sure reduce the pain significantly. TENS can control Pain in two ways
Sensory stimulation
It interferes with the transmission of pain signals by blocking the neural paths pain travel inMotor stimulation
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Techcare Touch X Tens Unit
A touchscreen TENS unit without the high ticket price
If youre looking for a TENS unit that works a little bit more like a smartphone, but dont have the budget for the PowerDot 2.0, then this is the one for you.
Another great machine from TechCare, it combines all the best features of our budget pick, the TechCare Plus 24, in a more contemporary package.
Enjoy 24 massage modes, 20 levels of intensity and dual channels to treat different areas of your body at the same time.
Plus, like its predecessor, the rechargeable battery gives you up to 20 hours of battery life.
So what extras do you get compared to the TechCare Plus 24?
Well, theres the touchscreen, which means you can conveniently switch between modes without having to scroll through different settings.
Intensity buttons on the side of the device allow you to increase and decrease power with ease.
Cost-wise you wont spend many more dollars on the Touch X unit, but the additional features youll benefit from will mean you can get even more from your device.
TENS is an acronym and stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation.
Endurance Therapeutics Aurawave Tens Unit Review
Treatment has never been easier since the aurawave tees unit was made. Its the first FDA-cleared Class II medical device thats available that doesnt need a prescription. Its like an OTC TENS Unit. It treats pain in the lower back and extremities with TENS technology.
If youre in need of therapeutic results, the aurawave perfect tens unit got you. Its equipped with six manual modes that deliver specific treatment. Four automatic modes have been specially calibrated using a series of pre-programmed pulses. This unit has the ideal lower back treatment position. It comes with an adjustable Back Relief Belt that holds the adhesive electrode pads firmly in place. It can either be on either side of the lower spine.
The endurance therapeutics aurawave tens unit System delivers soothing, low-frequency pulses to fight pain. The adhesive pads can be used on arms, shoulders, thighs, calves. You just need to read carefully aurawave review for best tens unit to buy.
Pros
- Battery charge lasts for a while
- You can use it wherever theres the pain. Its not restricted to the back
- You can set your intensity and time
- It reduces pain, and theres no need for painkillers/antibiotics
- Can treat two areas at the same time
Cons
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