If you’re suffering from any type of arthritis or back pain, you’ve probably heard of TENS and EMS. But at the surface level, they probably sound quite similar. When you dig a bit deeper, you’ll learn that these are two different pain relief methods, but they can work synergistically.
Let’s explore.
What is TENS?
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is a machine that has electrodes that send stimulating pulses through your skin to your nerve strands. The impulses interrupt pain signals and encourage the body to produce endorphins, both in an effort to reduce pain.
TENS units can work for various types of pain, including the common knee and back pain that people often suffer from.
A TENS unit puts treatment at your fingertips, allowing thousands of people to access this medical grade therapy from the comfort of their own home with a battery operated device.
TENS has become a popular pain relief option because it offers real and almost instant pain relief without drugs.
What is EMS?
An EMS system is an Electronic Muscle Stimulator that’s used to relieve pain, reduce muscle spasms and aid in the healing process. These units can range from 1 to 130 MHz, so there’s a broad range of intensity. An EMS unit is designed to send electrical impulses to stimulate the muscle. Such stimulation may reduce swelling and muscle inflammation, thus reducing pain and promoting healing.
TENS vs. EMS: Which to choose
If you’re looking for an electronic pain relief device, you’re probably wondering whether a TENS or EMS unit is better for your situation. This post aims to clear any confusion by addressing the similarities and differences between the two.
Similarities between TENS and EMS
Both devices provide electrical stimulation through electrodes that are placed on the skin. In both cases, you’ll place these electrodes near the area that you want to treat and control the intensity with the devices microcontroller.
Essentially, the two devices appear the same, but this is where the similarities end.
Differences between TENS and EMS
The main difference between these two systems is in their end use. A TENS unit primarily aims to treat pain while an EMS unit addresses pain while working to reverse muscle atrophy and retrain muscles.
These are two separate devices, but they are often combined into one hyper-functional device (as with Dr. Ho’s Pain Therapy System).
An EMS system induces muscle contraction and a TENS system does not. The TENS system strictly stimulates nerves to block pain signals. Because of this, the TENS unit can provide a more immediate pain relief than any EMS system. In fact, Dr. Ho’s Pain Therapy System has been known to reduce pain in as little as 20 minutes, thanks to the TENS component.
TENS and EMS are often combined because they provide long and short-term treatment for pain. While the TENS system can help you regain a pain-free life today, the EMS component can help retrain your muscles in order to help address the root of the problem.
Do you think a combined TENS and EMS system may work for your pain? Learn more about Dr. HO’s Pain Therapy System here. And feel free to reach out to us with any questions you may have.
