Complaints about low back-pains are dramatically increasing over the years. This may be because of the hefty workloads, pressures, tensions, and the fast pace life of the world we live in. Although transcutaneous electrical nerve system or TENS muscle stimulator has been introduced to people more than 30 years ago, its effectiveness until today is still being disputed.
However, despite the many speculations that arise there are still many who claims the effectiveness of this device in treating back-pains. TENS machines deals with atrocious and debilitating pains that people experiences by stimulating the nerves and the muscles of the affected areas. Moreover, this machine focuses in addressing chronic pain conditions, osteoarthritis, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other postoperative pains.
How does this work?
The pads are placed near the nerve or on the patient’s skin particularly on the affected area. The machine will then send an electrical impulse through the electrodes and then to the unit pads and unto the skin. The impulse that travels through the nerve beneath the skin is painless. Although for several days, you can feel a tingling effect which is beneficial in eliminating a substantial amount of pain experienced by some patients.
The concept of this electrical stimulation has long been used by our ancestor’s way back since ancient Greece. They would stand near the seashore where the electric fish abounds to alleviate different type of pains. Benjamin Franklin is one of the supporters of this idea to use electrical impulses in treating headaches and other ailments.
The good thing about this is that more and more devices has evolved today and is much easier to get access than before. Several innovations such as electronic muscle stim, TENS and electro-acupuncture, EMS, and many more have been successfully engineered by manufacturers.
You may opt to seek a medical professional for treatment using TENS but because of the facile accessibility of portable transcutaneous electrical nerve system, families and patients prefer to have their own machine at home. The smaller Empi TENS can be prescribed by their physicians. After undergoing training on how to use the unit and the proper placement of the pads, they can already administer the treatment by themselves at home. This is particularly beneficial to patients who frequently experience chronic back pain malady and may need to use this regularly.
The advancement of technology gave patients wider opportunity in treating lower back pains. Discover the efficacy of using TENS muscle stimulator in relieving chronic back pains today and enjoy a pain-free life from now on.
TENS Vs Muscle Stimulator – What’s the Difference?
You’ve probably heard a lot about muscle stimulators recently and chances are, you’ve heard TENS being mentioned, as well. They are both commonly advertised machines that you can get easily for home use. But what is the difference between these two treatments? If you aren’t sure about this then you won’t be able to make the best purchase decision.
The main difference between the two is that a muscle stimulator is used to cause muscle contraction, while TENS focuses on nerve stimulation and tries to avoid contracting the muscles. Both use electrical pulses to do their job, but have different purposes.
TENS
The main use of a TENS machine is for pain relief, particularly in the case of chronic pain. It is most often used for joint or muscle pain that won’t go away, but can also be used to help treat nerve problems without resorting to drugs. It isn’t uniformly effective, that is, different people will have different results. For some, TENS electrical pulses interrupt the pain signals so effectively that they are literally without pain. For others, the relief is nearly non-existent, but most commonly, this treatment provides considerable relief from the chronic pain that haunts the user.
On occasion, with medical consent, the TENS can be used at the end of pregnancy, to help alleviate the pains associated with early labor. Since this is only recommended with a doctor’s permission, it’s not a good idea to try this without checking first.
TENS can be used for up to 12 hours and consists of two small electrodes that are placed on either side of the area where the pain originates. The higher frequencies tend to block the pain signals, while much lower frequencies will stimulate the body to produce endorphins which naturally reduce pain.
Muscle Stimulation
This is a very similar machine to the TENS, also using two electrodes to send electrical pulses through the body. However, the purpose is quite different. Here, the purpose is to cause the muscles to contract and the reason has nothing to do with pain relief. Muscle stimulation has been found to be an effective method of training the muscles. The electrical impulses mimic those of the brain to tell muscles to move. There are two main reasons to use a muscle stimulator.
• Training: Using electrical stimulation for training purposes is very useful. It allows the person to focus on specific muscle groups by choosing the right frequency and will work just those muscles, working them and conditioning them. This is particularly useful for aesthetic purposes.
• Medical: When it comes to therapeutic use, electrical pulses can be used to stimulate muscles that are not being used. This can keep them conditioned and prevents atrophying. It’s a useful measure in medical situations.
Both TENS machines and muscle stimulators have their uses, but they are very different in their reasons for being used. If you are looking for an alternative to standard pain relief, then the TENS machine is what you should be looking at. However, for the prevention of atrophied muscles and to define specific muscle groups, the muscle stimulator is the way to go.
Now that you know the difference between these two different types of therapies, you’ll be able to choose the correct one. These machines can be bought for home use and you can safely use them yourself, as long as you follow the directions and take care not to use them if you have heart problems or a pacemaker. Provider of a variety of high quality electronic muscle stimulators devices and TENS systems for at home use. Electrical pulse therapy has many uses and whether you need TENS for pain relief or a muscle stimulator for medical purposes or aesthetic ones, you can use them effectively.
Mechanism of Action
TENS muscle stimulation works by applying low-voltage electrical current to the affected area through electrodes placed on the skin. The electrical current stimulates the nerves and causes the release of endorphins, which are natural pain-relieving chemicals in the body. Additionally, the electrical current can also stimulate the muscles, which can help to improve muscle function and reduce muscle spasms.
Indications
TENS muscle stimulation is used to treat a variety of conditions that affect the muscles, such as muscle spasms, muscle weakness, and muscle pain. It is also used to treat conditions such as chronic pain, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia. It can also be used to prevent muscle atrophy caused by immobility, for example in patients with spinal cord injuries or paralysis.
Administration
TENS muscle stimulation is typically administered using a portable device that generates the electrical impulses. The device is equipped with electrodes, which are placed on the skin at the site of the muscle pain or weakness. The intensity, frequency, and duration of the impulses can be adjusted to suit the patient’s condition and needs. The therapy can be administered at home or in a clinical setting, and it is usually done for a period of 15 to 30 minutes, several times a day.
Risks
TENS muscle stimulation is considered to be a safe and non-invasive treatment option, but it does carry certain risks. The most common side effect of TENS muscle stimulation is skin irritation at the site of the electrodes. However, this is usually mild and temporary. Other potential side effects include muscle cramping, pain, and burns, but these are also rare. It is not recommended for certain groups of people, such as pregnant women, people with a history of heart disease, or people who have a pacemaker. TENS should not be applied over the eyes, on the head, or over cancerous tumors.
It’s important to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for use and consult with a healthcare professional before starting TENS muscle stimulation. It is also important to monitor the skin for any signs of irritation or burns, and to discontinue use if any adverse reactions occur.
TENS Units and Muscle Stimulators for Athletic Pain Treatment
Pain is nothing new to athletes. They often deal with pain and soreness, to at least some extent, every day. Some believe being able to push through the pain is what creates the best athletes. However, a body can only cope with so much pain before it gives in and gets worse. There are many forms of treatments, medications, and products to alleviate pain. TENS Units and muscles stimulators are two viable options that should be seriously considered.
Medication is generally the first method of treatment athletes will turn to. It is easy to just pop an anti-inflammatory every eight hours and it is practically guaranteed to help in some way. But, we have all seen those aspirin commercials that depict a person continually taking the medication several times in one day. This can be very dangerous in the long term. Naproxen, the drug used in medicine like Aleve, can cause circulation problems and stomach and intestinal bleeding if it is used often over long periods of time. Then of course there are other prescribed medications which can be habit-forming and can be just as, if not more, dangerous to your overall health.
As time progresses, many athletes will begin to suffer from more chronic pain as opposed to common soreness or the occasional sports injury. Not only will physical therapy be a must, It is a good idea to begin usage of a TENS Unit. A TENS Unit is an alternative to a life of pain medication. The device is specifically used for chronic pain and provides immediate relief through the use of electrical impulses. Essentially the unit “tricks” the brain into thinking there is no pain because the electrical impulses will stop the pain signal that is sent to your brain. The machine can be used anywhere on the body -back, neck, shoulder, leg, etc.; simply attach silver electrodes to the area receiving pain. Best of all, you can control the pulse rates, pulse widths, and frequencies to find the best amount of relief.
Alternatively, athletes can also use muscle stimulators, but for different reasons. A muscle stimulator is not used to treat chronic pain. Instead, it can speed up one’s muscle recovery after an injury -which probably occurs fairly often for professional athletes. The device can also build muscles and prevent muscle atrophy. A muscle stimulator also uses silver electrodes, but electronic pulses sent will contract the muscle tissue, allowing an increase in blood flow.