How to use a TENS units & EMS machines for back pain relief? Placement of electrode pads

Regardless of whether you are a person living your day-to-day life or a highly competitive athlete, the back is one of the most important areas of the body and at the same time one of the most vulnerable, since the simple fact of maintaining an inadequate posture can have a negative impact on it, even causing major injuries.

Due to the common ailments in this area of the body, electrostimulation through TENS and EMS is of great relevance as a treatment to relieve pain or strengthen the muscles in this area. Therefore, in the following paragraphs we will show you the correct way to use both methods.

How to use a TENS machine to relieve low back pain?

TENS unit therapy uses low intensity currents that act on the skin and penetrate deep into the dorsal, lumbar and cervical muscles, reaching the nerves to control their pain receptors.

Among its main uses and benefits we can highlight the following:

• Increases pain resistance: the electrical impulses created by the TENS machine directly affect the nerve receptors along the lumbar, dorsal back or cervical area, increasing the pain threshold and providing relief during and after the session.
• Reduces the production of cells that cause pain: TENS therapy suppresses the cell groups responsible for producing the sensation of pain, generating immediate relief to the patient.
• Alterations in the reciprocal innervation: in this way a relaxation of the trapezius, dorsal, rhomboid and other back muscles is achieved, avoiding the involuntary tension that we all have when we feel pain, causing a very pleasant analgesic effect.
• Increased blood flow: the electric shocks applied to the back cause the dilation of the blood vessels found in it, generating a local decrease in pain and generating a feeling of relief that lasts until some time after the session.

With this in mind it is necessary to emphasize the fact that TENS units are not intended for the healing of lumbar, dorsal or cervical injuries, but for pain relief, so their use is only recommended to reduce patient discomfort while other treatments are being applied.

Best TENS machines for back injury recovery

We now present for you a list of the best transcutaneous electrical stimulation machines available on the market, which will be of great help in reducing the pain of back injuries.

One of the best features of the Belifu electro stimulator is its 4 independent channels that allow you to individually treat different areas of the body with the different modes of use available. This electrotherapy machine has 24 programs and 30 intensity levels with different massage modes for pain relief and muscle stimulation.

The Belifu electric massager includes 10 reusable self-adhesive conductive pads and 5 sets of guide wires. The electrodes are coated with a layer of adhesive that gives them perfect adhesion to the skin, and with proper care, can withstand many uses before they need to be replaced.

The TENS 7000 has one of the most complete models of electrostimulator, which includes a wide variety of functions and accessories. It is a digital unit that combines TENS and EMS technologies together with an innovative dual channel function that allows you to apply these electrostimulation modalities on different parts of the body simultaneously.

The TENS 7000 muscle stimulator includes one of the most complete electrical stimulation therapy packages you will find. It includes 1 TENS 7000 unit, 2 guide cables, 4 packs of reusable pads, 1 9-volt battery, 1 instruction manual and a hard case to carry your electrostimulation equipment wherever you want.

The Etekcity massage unit offers one of the most comprehensive pain relief experiences you will find in a device of this type, with an innovative 4-channel function that allows you to apply different types of massage to individual areas of the body, increasing the effectiveness of electrostimulation therapy and delivering far superior results.

All its modes of use are FSA and HSA approved, making it completely safe for anyone to use. It can be operated and set up very easily. The package includes reusable electrodes coated with adhesive gel in 3 sizes: 2 units of 2x4 inches, 4 units of 2x2 inches and 2 units of 1.5x1.5 inches.

Spacerest offers its users its newest model of electro stimulator that combines TENS and EMS technologies in a dynamic and compact device that includes 24 reusable electrodes of excellent quality and an incredible 4-channel function that will allow you to apply different modes of use to 4 different areas of the body, or even to 4 different people.

It has an incredibly portable size that will allow you to take it anywhere, and a high-powered rechargeable battery that will give you up to 20 hours of continuous use. It can be connected to AC power through its AC adapter, or to an external battery or laptop through its USB charging port.

The Med-Fit model BAL-906ª is a very complete rechargeable electrostimulation device of premium quality that has an incredible function of 4 individual channels that will give you a great coverage and a perfect effectiveness when applying different electrical massages simultaneously. It also has a large LCD screen that makes it especially easy to operate, so you can program your sessions with great ease.

It has 24 clinically proven massage programs, which are divided into 12 TENS therapy programs and 12 muscle stimulation training modes. It has a long-life rechargeable lithium battery that will give you a great autonomy of several hours of continuous use, eliminating the extra cost of buying replacement cylindrical batteries.

How to use an EMS muscle stimulator for the back?

EMS therapy is focused on strengthening muscles through the use of a medium to high intensity current to create muscle contractions. And since the back is one of the regions of the human body that contains the most muscles, the effectiveness of this treatment is notorious.

Among the benefits of EMS stimulation against back injuries are the following:

• Increased speed of recovery: the muscle contractions caused by EMS discharges stimulate tissue regeneration at a faster rate thanks to the increased blood supply to the various muscles of the middle, lower and cervical back.
• Reduction of fatigue: reduces oxygen consumption of the trapezius, lumbar and dorsal muscles, essential for spinal stability, by up to 16%, which translates into an increase in fatigue resistance of approximately 20%.
• Prevention of future injuries: the effective combination of exercise, good nutrition and EMS stimulation strengthens the back muscles and improves the absorption of nutrients from them, making them more resistant and elastic to prevent future ailments.
• Relaxation and strengthening of the back muscles: electrostimulation to the back muscles provides a form of passive training, which provides a strengthening of muscle mass and increased strength, while relaxing the stimulated muscle groups.
• Improved blood supply: The vasodilation caused by the electrical stimuli increases blood supply by up to 20% in the trapezius, deltoid or cervical splenius, which increases their growth potential and their ability to recover from injury.

Best EMS electrostimulators to strengthen back and lumbar muscles

Here are the best electrostimulators you can buy to strengthen the various muscle groups of the middle, lower and cervical back:

Compex presents the Muscle Massage Kit that includes the versatile Compex Edge 2.0 electrostimulator, which is presented as one of the most effective options to complement physical training, thanks to its 4 programs of use, 2 for strength training, 1 for recovery, and 1 TENS massage mode, which will allow you to increase the strength and endurance of your muscles, while reducing the ailments caused by fatigue.

The package includes 12 clip-type electrodes, 4 guide wires, built-in battery and a dust-proof bag so you can take your electrostimulation device with you wherever you go. Its training modes will allow you to increase your endurance and explosive strength, while the recovery modes will allow you to expel lactic acid and reduce aches and pains caused by post-workout exhaustion.

The Quad Stim portable electrostimulation unit is one of the most versatile devices you will find on the market. It seamlessly combines TENS and EMS electrostimulation technologies, as well as a 4-channel function that maximizes the results of your workouts and therapies by allowing you to apply different types of massage to various parts of the body at the same time.

It has 8 customizable massage modes, which are divided into 5 TENS therapy modes, and 3 EMS stimulation modes, which together with its pulse rate adjustment function, make it one of the most versatile electrostimulation machines you can find. It works with 4 cylindrical AA batteries that give the device great portability and allow you to take it wherever you want.

The Belice brand has one of the most powerful and versatile electrostimulation units available on the market, which comes in a package with everything you may need to apply a successful electro massage therapy, from the reusable pads to a travel bag to take your device with you wherever you go.

It has 24 modes of use and 30 intensity levels that you can program individually on each of its 4 channels, so you can apply them to different parts of the body, or even different people, simultaneously. Its high-powered battery will allow you to apply electrostimulation for 20 continuous hours, and is fully rechargeable through the current or from a USB charger.

From the FEIHAI brand, you have at your disposal one of the most complete electric massage machines on the market, thanks to its large number of functions. Among these are its 20 predefined massage modes that will allow you to relieve any type of muscle ailment, and its 4-channel function through which you can apply different massages on various parts of the body at the same time.

It has 20 modes of use and 40 adjustable intensity levels, as well as a time controller that allows you to adjust the therapy sessions according to your needs. Its compact size makes it incredibly discreet, so you can take it to the office, on a trip, on the street or wherever you like.

The Laspi brand of products has an electrostimulation machine designed to maximize the results of your workouts through a complete massage therapy provided by TENS and EMS technologies, which will allow you to combat acute and chronic ailments, as well as increase the results of your exercises by stimulating muscle growth.

It has a function of 4 individual channels that will allow you to apply different massage programs in various areas of the body, in addition to 3 programs that together give you more than 20 options between TENS, EMS and recovery massages, 40 levels of intensity and time control function that will allow you to define the duration of each session.

Video: How to place the electrodes pads on your back?

Electrodes for back

• For low back pain: Low back pain is one of the easiest to treat with TENS electrotherapy. You simply place the electrodes on the lower back.
• For dorsalgia: In the middle back, the positioning can be more confusing since it is a wider area.
• For cervical pain: As in the lumbar area, the cervical area is quite simple to treat with TENS, you simply have to place the electrodes close to the point of pain to achieve a better effect.
• To train the trapezius: In the case of the trapezius muscle, the electrodes should be positioned in the middle area of the trapezius muscle, and each one on the upper or lower part of the muscle, avoiding the spinous process as much as possible.
• For training the latissimus dorsi: For the latissimus dorsi, EMS sessions require one electrode on the muscle belly and another on the upper part of the muscle, just above the rhomboid.
• For the lower back: The use of this therapy in the lower back is much simpler, since you can cover practically the entire region by placing the electrodes on the posterior thoracolumbar fascia.

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Most common types of back injuries

Bending, bending and lifting heavy objects with the strength of the back are more common practices than they should be, so injuries at different levels of the back occur very often:

• Low back pain: is the more generic term for back pain that affects the lower back and can extend to the thigh, groin and buttocks. It can be caused by a variety of reasons, from spinal compression to muscle strain.
• Muscle strain: is an injury that occurs when the lumbar muscles are overstretched or torn, causing damage to the muscle fibers resulting in pain, bruising and motor limitations. This injury can be caused by overexertion, inadequate warm-up before physical activity or lack of flexibility.
• Herniated disc (lumbar or cervical): a herniated disc is an injury that affects one of the intervertebral discs, which are housed between each of the vertebrae of the spine. This disc is made up of a gelatinous area surrounded by a fibrous ring, which, when ruptured, causes the injury. These usually occur due to age, but also due to excessive dead weight lifting.
• Vertebral impingement: This injury results in considerable loss of motion along the entire spine caused by blockage of one or more vertebrae, causing numbness, muscle weakness and severe pain. Impingement can occur due to poor posture, repetitive movements involving excessive strain, certain diseases such as obesity or thyroid problems, and accidents.
• Spinal osteoarthritis: is a degenerative disease of the intervertebral discs that causes them to lose elasticity and not cushion impacts, which generates a constant wear of the periosteum that covers the bones of the vertebrae.

Differences between TENS and EMS: Which one to use for back pain?

TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) is a method of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, a technique that uses a device to control the electrical impulses that generate the sensation of pain in the back.

These devices use different types of currents of greater or lesser intensity, varying between 1 and 250 Hz. The objective of this treatment is to increase the patient's pain threshold by counting the nerve transmissions, causing a sensation of relief in the affected area.

Electro Muscle Stimulation, or EMS for its initials in English (Electric Muscle Stimulation), more than a medical technique, is a therapy applied mainly to physical training, since it consists of using high intensity electrical impulses to generate contractions at a muscular level. This practice serves aesthetic purposes, allowing to increase and tone the muscle mass, thus increasing the strength and performance of muscles.

With this in mind, in the case of ailments in an area with as much musculature as the back, TENS stimulation is much more effective by applying light electrical pulses around the affected areas, relaxing the muscles and limiting the action of pain transmitters.

However, there is very little research on the effectiveness of TENS therapy for chronic back pain, and what is known indicates that although TENS machines provide relief for certain injuries, it is less effective in cases such as severe scoliosis or severe spondylolisthesis, with several studies affirming its inaction in these cases.

Contraindications in the use of electrodes and electrotherapy