EMS vs TENS: The Differences Between Electrotherapy Devices
If you’ve ever experienced acute or chronic pain, you may have heard that electrotherapy can be a powerful method of relief — but how can you use this type of treatment in your daily life?There are two main types of electrotherapy devices that you can use at home: electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Both types of devices deliver low-voltage electrical impulses to a targeted area of your body, but you may prefer one over the other for your health needs.Read on to learn more about each type of electrotherapy, so you can make an informed decision about the type of device that is right for your pain management.
What is EMS?
EMS is primarily focused on stimulating your muscles. An EMS device sends electrical impulses to the electrodes located in the pads you place on your skin. The device cycles through a pattern of electrical impulses that stimulate your muscle, causing your muscle to contract and relax repeatedly.
How Does it Help?
EMS is used to strengthen a muscle or to help it relax and recover after overuse. If you’re a fitness enthusiast, EMS is a great option for improving your physical fitness or quickly healing after intense training. Because EMS units encourage blood circulation within the muscle, these devices can also help loosen stiff muscles and improve their range of motion. This is particularly useful if you’ve experienced an injury or illness and are concerned about muscle atrophy.EMS directly affects your muscles instead of your nerves, with the intended goal of stimulating and repairing your muscles as opposed to relieving pain. Nevertheless, sore muscles may feel better after using an EMS device because the activity relaxes the tissue. Alternatively, stimulating muscles with EMS is like a workout, so this type of electrotherapy can also cause the muscle to appear more toned over time. It is important to note that EMS should not be used as a replacement for traditional exercise — it should be used in conjunction with it to help improve fitness and recovery.
TENS focuses on your nerves and prevents the pain signal from a targeted area from reaching your brain. TENS devices transmit a high-frequency electrical impulse directly targeted at nerve endings through the skin. Like an EMS unit, a TENS device delivers its electrical impulses through electrodes in pads that are placed on your skin over the painful area.
How Does it Help?
Interrupting the pain signal prevents your brain from processing the feeling of pain coming from the targeted spot on your body. Instead of pain, you experience a tingling sensation and a welcome relief from sensations of pain. TENS can be especially helpful if you’re suffering from a chronic condition such as back or neck pain, arthritis, or neurological conditions.
How Can You Get Started?
The Vital TENS Deluxe Pain Control Unit is an easy and effective way to mitigate pain, but remember that a prescription is required to purchase a TENS device in the U.S.
Find the Right Electrotherapy Type for You
If you’re looking for a way to stimulate individual muscles or for pain relief without medication, electrotherapy could be your solution. Both EMS and TENS devices can be used at home whenever you need them — you just need to know whether your muscles or your nerves should be the focus of your treatment. Speak to your doctor or physical therapist for more guidance on which type of device you should use, as well as how to use it safely. Learning where on your body you should place the pads from these devices is particularly important for effective treatment.Visit The Back Store to see our full range of electrotherapy devices, so you can find the unit that works best for your health needs. Still have questions? Contact our friendly team for assistance.
If you’ve ever experienced acute or chronic pain, you may have heard that electrotherapy can be a powerful method of relief — but how can you use this type of treatment in your daily life?
There are two main types of electrotherapy devices that you can use at home: electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Both types of devices deliver low-voltage electrical impulses to a targeted area of your body, but you may prefer one over the other for your health needs.
Read on to learn more about each type of electrotherapy, so you can make an informed decision about the type of device that is right for your pain management.