How To Use A TENS / EMS Unit For Pain Relief & Muscle Strength

[@ernestreid9296]

Hi Dave thank you for explaining TEMs unites. I use to use them in PT for dropped foot. I also used the Bioness L300 for 7 good years to help me walk. After 7 years I had to turn up the voltage so high to get anything out of it. It was painful, I also used a Tens band around my leg for pain in my upper hamstrings. The pain went away When I was using it. Unfortunately when I wasn't using it, the pain was a lot more intense. After a few weeks I got rid of it. The vidio will also help people understand the TENS foot pads that are advertised all over KZbin. Thanks again .

[@More4Life]

You're welcome, and thanks for sharing your experience as well.

[@johndoe1156]

Very easy to understand and thorough explanation. Thank you

[@More4Life]

Glad it was helpful!

[@stevenfox5250]

Absolutely wonderful description of the EMS function of your TENS / EMS Combination unit. In fact, IMO your description of the EMS Portion of your unit is the clearest, simplest, most concise and well thought out description I have yet seen for exactly what EMS does for a patient, such as myself, who is suffering from Bilateral Lumbosacral nerve root compression of the bilateral L5 and S1 nerve roots from neuroforaminal lumbar stenosis causing hronic compression of my Biateral L5 and S1 nerve roots which have been corrected with an L3-L5 XLIF decompression and fusion surgery on July 2023....but unfortunately I have lost the ability to stand on my toes ever since early May 2023.....i have had extremely weak plantar flexors (gastrocnemius / soleus) since early May 2023...in fact my plantar fkexors are an MMT OF 2 - Both my Gastrocnemius and Soleus are an MMT of 2 bilaterally. Therefore, to try to restore my plantar flexor strength, I will be having nerve transfer surgery within hopefully about 2 weeks from today ( 6-5-24) to reanimate my deinnervated Gastrocnemius ans Soleus. In the meantime, I just purchased an Istim EV 805 TENS/EMS unit from Amazon an hour ago. As soon as I receive the EMS, I'll be running EMS probably 45 minutes twice per day on my plantar flexors to try to prevent further Motor End Plate Degeneration on my Gastrocnemius and Soleus so that the probability of a successful nerve transder surgery to reanimate my bilateral Gastroc and Soleus is increased. To me a successful nerve transfer surgery for reanimation of my Gastrocnemius would be me going from an MMT of 2 pre surgery to an MMT of 3 or greater post surgery. For my Soleus, same thing.... I would define a successful nerve transfer surgery as me going from an MMT of 2 for Soleus presurgery....to an MMT of 3 or greater post surgery. Dr Candy, thank you again for the wonderful description / explanation of EMS. You are a great educator.

[@More4Life]

You're welcome. Glad you enjoyed the video, and good luck with your surgery and recovery.

[@knoreyes1]

Excelente información, God bless you

[@More4Life]

Glad you liked it, and thanks!

[@2444Reid]

Good information to know about the difference between the TENS & EMS.

[@More4Life]

Glad you liked it

[@peterevans3229]

Well done .. just bought the unit you demoed...

[@More4Life]

Glad it was helpful

[@MrLeo3D]

Excellently described. What would be better TENS or EMS, for lumbar disc extrusion related pain & numbness in lower back, thigh & knee. Also, can this be used to speed up rehab in routine sprains?

[@More4Life]

If pain control is your primary focus, TENS is probably the better option - although either can work for that purpose. As to speeding up rehab for routine sprains (or most any condition), it's unlikely that either TENS or EMS will speed up healing.

[@MrLeo3D]

@@More4Lifethanks a lot for clearing things up. Another thing I wanted to ask that I'm going through rehab of lumbar disc extrusion and having severe spasms of pain in knee, outer thigh and lower back after walking. This has reduced my daily mobility to just few steps and I'm experiencing muscle atrophy in affected thigh due to immobility, can EMS help in this situation?

[@More4Life]

@@MrLeo3D the EMS most likely won't "fix" the problem. What it may do is decrease how much atrophy takes place by giving the muscle a signal to contract... the signal that it's currently not getting from the brain / spinal cord. The probably won't stop the atrophy all together, but may potentially decrease how much atrophy. Here's a video about spinal stenosis and walking problems that may give you some other ideas to help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4jHYaWLj9Z0a6c

[@libertarianman69]

So I get really big knots near my shoulder blade and that is why I got this so you're saying it's only going to help it while this machine is on I was hoping it would help relax the muscle or whatever and continue to work after I use it

[@More4Life]

Yes, the effects are primarily just while the device is on. Here's another video about knots in the shoulder blade though that may help give you some longer-term relief. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIDPiYtslNyrl8k

[@libertarianman69]

@@More4Life thank you

[@popaki9484]

Thanks for making this video. I bought a couple to try out. They both hurt the surface of my skin...feels like im getting hit with many rubber bands. One unit works a little better than the other but it is hard to get EMS mode to engage my quad to rehab the muscles due to atrophy from a meniscus tear. Could this be because I have more fat content on my thigh than you? It seems to be difficult to penetrate. Any advice would be helpful. Thank you!

[@More4Life]

The electric wave form and intensity have more to do with it than fat content. Without getting too technical, the pulses have to be long enough (~50 microseconds or greater) and the intensity has to be high enough in order to get the muscle to contract. This sometimes is uncomfortable on the surface of the skin when it gets turned up that high. But definitely make sure that you unit that you have specifically says EMS on it and that it's in EMS mode, or it will just give the buzzing, tingling sensation.

[@guybuddyman838]

Bro ur jacked. 💪

[@tamarmeir]

Thanks alot

[@More4Life]

You're welcome

[@baileysice2715]

Hi i can feel the current but I'm not getting my thigh muscle to tense up using one of these, what am i doing wrong or is it the machine? Using it on thighs

[@More4Life]

If you look in the user manual, certain programs are labeled as TENS (Programs 1-9 on the one in the video) and others as EMS (Programs 10-18). It needs to be set on an EMS setting for the contraction. The user manual also shows proper pad placement.

[@baileysice2715]

Sorry I haven't gotten a notification for this. I have it in the right places. When I turn it up to max settings I get twitching but muscle does not ball up. I got it because l knew l was loosing muscle. Is this something you've ever come across? Previous Dr check couldn't find anything wrong

[@More4Life]

@@baileysice2715 Sometimes it takes experimentation to get the exact pad placement correct and it depends on the muscle. The pads have to be on either side of the muscle's motor point. The biggest thing to check is to make sure you're on an EMS program though (Program 10-18). Outside of that, it's hard to say without seeing the issue.

[@LuisGarcia-p9c9n]

Hw to use foarmr muscleafter stroke

[@Adil-tx1fc]

What about side effects.... If any.

[@More4Life]

Good question! If you have a pacemaker or any implanted electrical device, you should not use a TENS or EMS unit. There is the possibility of slight skin irritation under the electrode. Electrical burns or shocks are rare, but can happen - usually if the electrodes have dried out and lose contact with the skin (i.e. breaking a live circuit while it's on). If you use it for muscle strengthening, your muscles can get sore afterwards, just like they would after a strength workout. Other than that, very few side effects, but ask your doctor if you have any concerns about how it may affect a particular health condition that you have.

[@AnthonyCole-j7q]

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