Armed Polite Society
Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Ben on December 10, 2018, 11:48:20 AM
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Anyone know anything about or have any experience with these TENS muscle stimulators? I see them popping up everywhere and am wondering if they are actually a benefical technology, a fad, or just bunk or what?
Example:
https://www.amazon.com/TENS-7000-Digital-Unit-accessories/dp/B00NCRE4GO/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1544460068&sr=1-4&keywords=tens
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I used them when I was an athletic trainer in college. My friend the chiropractor also uses them, and I've been the recipient of tens treatment, as well. For muscular issues, they can really help.
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I used them when I was an athletic trainer in college. My friend the chiropractor also uses them, and I've been the recipient of tens treatment, as well. For muscular issues, they can really help.
I should add that my interest in them is right up that alley. I'm wondering if they really do help with speeding up healing when I do stupid stuff like strain a hamstring or whatnot.
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When I messed up my knee my physical therapist used one and said it helped break up scar tissue. I don't know if it actually worked that way, but that knee is now better than my other one.
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SWMBO uses one on her upper back and lower neck. Regular use really seems to help keep the stress-induced migraines at bay.
Brad
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My chiro friend says their basic method of operation is to make the muscles contract and relax to the point where they tire out and relax naturally.
At least I think that's what he said.
And, from being hooked up to one, that's certainly what it feels like.
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Wonderful little gizmos.
One thing I'll point out is that different people seem to react wildly differently to the intensity settings. So start low and build it up based on your individual response to the impulses.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
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The way I understand them is they use the Gate Control Theory for pain relief. With enough non-painful stimulation to the nerve fibers the "gate" closes preventing the pain impulse from reaching the central nervous system. The theory has been around since the mid sixties and it seems to work. Whenever I give an IM shot I will spend about 10 seconds or so producing pressure over the injection site with my finger before I stick the needle in. Through giving many, many shots and anecdotal evidence such as "wow, I didn't feel that" or other things like that I believe it *may* work. Of course that is only for the needle stick, it wears off quickly and the pain from introducing a foreign substance into the muscle may still cause discomfort. Although the TENS unit is now becoming available to the masses, for years it has been available as a prescription device as an adjunct to various other pain control methods.
bob
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I've been the recipient of tens treatment, as well. For muscular issues, they can really help.
Same here, I have had them used on me for physical therapy following an injury. Does feel like a really deep massage, without all the pressure of hands. I may need to buy one too.
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One thing I'll point out is that different people seem to react wildly differently to the intensity settings. So start low and build it up based on your individual response to the impulses.
Sometimes that's pad placement; I've had it going on my quads, couldn't feel much, decided to move the lower pad about an inch, and on the first pulse involuntarily kicked a chair hard enough to dislocate one of my tarsals. Always turn it down before moving a pad and build back up to where you want it.
I do recommend https://www.tenspros.com/ The prices are quite reasonable, and my TwinStim III is still going strong after ~3 years of intermittent use and a couple dozen changes of pads. (I don't use it on battery much, as I want to be sitting or laying comfortably anyway, and that's usually near an outlet.)
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We have one and am getting a special variation of one that attaches to your earlobes to treat migraines!
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I had one used during physical therapy the last time I rolled my right ankle 21 years ago. It did help with the nasty busing and made it possible for me to make the "Bhutan Death March" with just an ace bandage and ankle support into the wilderness that August. Felt weird though.
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The Army-issued physical therapist used one on me when I injured my rectus femoris. I'm a huge fan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rectus_femoris_muscle
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I’m a big fan of TENS.
Been wondering about the home units myself.
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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O7CM12W/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I've got this el cheapo one, and it works well. The only real expense is extra pads and the gel stuff to apply them. after 2 years I've completely gotten my money's worth. It's not the fancy unit my bonecracker has, but works on my neck at home just fine.
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The Army-issued physical therapist used one on me when I injured my rectus femoris. I'm a huge fan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rectus_femoris_muscle
You wrecked your rectus?
Ouch...
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"Rectum? Hell, it KILLED him!"
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Exactly...
Exactly...
:rofl:
Speaking of rectums... less than a week until my steel eel!
Trust me, I'm not nearly as excited as it would appear...
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Use a TENS unit on yer butt to relax it before hand...
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Are they waterproof?
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Are they waterproof?
What? Rectums?
I hope so! :rofl:
In general I'd have to say no because of all of the plug in points for the leads. They may be water resistant, but I sincerely doubt waterproof.
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1950s, My Pop had one of these for muscular aches and pains. Ran off D-Cells in the main barrel. He claimed it worked pretty good.
https://picclick.com/1919-QUACK-MEDICINE-ELECTREAT-MASSAGE-MACHINE-Antique-Vibrator-273398347776.html
(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.picclickimg.com%2Fd%2Fl400%2Fpict%2F273398347776_%2F1919-QUACK-MEDICINE-ELECTREAT-MASSAGE-MACHINE-Antique-Vibrator.jpg&hash=2788de04e554561bde713ec4da73adec4c06a442)
The main thing it did was deliver a buzzer-generated electric shock to the affected area through the roller on top.
The shock intensity was regulated by a slider control on the barrel of the thing. There was a plug-in vibrator with a separate motor supplied by the batteries in the handle. Intensity and frequency of the vibrator was regulated by the same slider control.
I played with it a lot, trying to see how intense a shock I could stand from hand to other hand.
One of these sold at a Gallery 63 auction, I think, for $300. I wish Gallery 63 had a data base of their sale prices.
Terry, 230RN
REF:
https://www.gallery63.net
Pic credit in link
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This came in the mail today, it is my Alpha-Stim M unit:
(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fherohog.com%2Fimages%2Fmisc%2FAlpha-Stim0.jpg&hash=ac1ecd9a38ab8305d98c0033163ce1ab4840861e)
(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fherohog.com%2Fimages%2Fmisc%2FAlpha-Stim1.jpg&hash=7428e6d4e4f62d79fb2dd7c7ec02c7330890fb00)
:old:
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I'm a big fan of mine. It served me in the best way possible; not requiring me to keep using it. Prior to the TENS introduction in a physical therapy treatment, my back had been going out once or twice a year several years running.
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Well, that's a lot of positive reviews. I've put one on my Christmas list.
I'm really surprised at how inexpensive most of them are. If you would have asked me to guess, I would have said "starting at $100."
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The pads are what cost. I get mine for about ½ off through my PT BIL.
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Yeah do NOT buy pads at the drug store.
When you buy the unit buy one that takes commonly available pads and order online.
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Sitting here shocking the carp out of my right shoulder for 120 minutes after the wife used it on her right knee for the same duration. It DO help painful joints! She has RA and I have a type II acromion that really ticks off my bursitis!
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My anti-vax, CBD-oil-lovin' co-worker used one all day at work. He said later that night, he found out his shoulder was black and blue. Guess they're not fool-proof.
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