Best TENS units & EMS machines with heat therapy - Buying Guide: 2024

The electrostimulation devices are designed almost exclusively for physiotherapy, focusing on various branches of physiotherapy. Muscular electrostimulation therapy focuses on physical conditioning, while Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation is applied for the treatment of ailments. In addition, it is possible to find devices with thermotherapy.

This type of therapy promotes muscle relaxation and the relief of pain caused by bone injuries and rheumatic disorders such as arthritis and osteoarthritis, as well as other types of joint pain. In the following paragraphs, we will teach you everything you need to consider when purchasing electrostimulation devices with heat therapy, how to differentiate which type of stimulator is right for your needs.

Best electrostimulators and TENS machines with heat therapy

The Easy@Home brand offers its users the EHE018 TENS and EMS electrostimulation unit, which includes, in addition to all the features of these devices, a heat therapy function that will allow instant and complete relief of any type of muscle or joint ailment, as well as complete muscle stimulation sessions thanks to its EMS function.

This versatile electrostimulation machine has 8 pre-designed modes of use, with 20 intensity levels that offer different types of massages oriented to treat different ailments. It is the best option to quickly achieve the relief and relaxation you are looking for, while getting rid of all kinds of ailments thanks to its heat waves and the wide range of intensity of its TENS and EMS electrical impulses.

The FlexHeat electrostimulator, a product of the Flextone brand, is one of the most versatile and safe options for the treatment of joint and muscle ailments thanks to its TENS electrostimulation technology and its heat therapy function, as well as an excellent complement for muscle development and strengthening thanks to the EMS electrical impulses.

To get the most out of this powerful device, you only need 20 to 30 minutes of use per day. It has 8 predefined modes of use that can be combined with its 20 intensity levels to create a very complete range of massages that can reach the deep tissue of the treated area, generating a sensation of instant relief.

The Omron Total Power is a very complete electrostimulation device by Omron, which has TENS electrostimulation technology for the treatment of any type of muscular ailments, as well as a heat therapy function that allows to reduce deep tissue ailments in a very easy way, providing a sensation of immediate relief to the patient.

This versatile device can treat both chronic and acute pain in a safe and natural way, thanks to its ability to increase the production of endorphins in the human body. It has 20 intensity levels that can be adapted to your needs and its heat therapy function allows it to reach a temperature of 43 °C (109 °F). Its long-lasting pads have a fairly long lifespan, allowing up to 30 uses.

The Baldoni Neuromodulation brand offers its users a powerful two-channel electrostimulation device that features TENS, EMS and a heat therapy function that makes it one of the most versatile units on the market, allowing you to get instant relief from any ailment while stimulating muscle growth.

Its dual channel function allows you to treat two different areas of the body simultaneously, it has 8 modes of use and 20 intensity levels to cover a wide range of massages to suit any type of ailment, and the package includes the electro stimulator with heat function, 2 pads, 2 clip electrodes and 1 USB charger.

The OSITO electric neck massager is one of the most precise electrostimulation units available, with an ergonomic design designed exclusively to adapt to the neck area and apply TENS electrical impulses to the most sensitive areas, relieving any type of ailment.

It has 9 modes of use and 50 intensity levels that allow access to the deep tissue of the neck, to offer complete relief of any type of ailment. It can be switched between TENS and effective heat therapy modes very easily thanks to its remote control, and its high capacity battery allows an autonomy of several hours with just a few minutes of charging.

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Best TENS units & EMS machines with heat therapy - Buying Guide: 2024

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Buying guide: What should I take into account to buy the best electro stimulator with heat therapy?

While electrostimulators have a wide variety of uses, it is necessary for the buyer to be clear about what their needs are, and what they require from an electrostimulator, in order to select the right device, especially when it comes to one with such a specific function as heat therapy.

Types of uses

• Type of use: Generally, the need to acquire a device with a thermotherapy function arises from a rheumatic ailment or the need for a method to relax tense muscles. These are the most common uses for this type of therapy.
• User experience: it is necessary to look for a device that has an ease of use appropriate to the user's experience with the use of electrostimulators, especially those that include the heat therapy function.
• Time of use: this is a factor that has an impact on the required quality of the device. It is important to keep in mind that the longer you need to use the stimulator, the higher the quality must be in order for it to last the necessary time.

Technical characteristics

• Channels: the number of channels available in the device is directly related to the electrodes that can be used on the user's skin. It is possible to find stimulators with thermotherapy function with two channels, which support the use of up to four or more wires.
• Pads/Electrodes: the greater the number of electrodes the stimulator has, the greater the area of effect of the electrical impulses and heat applied by the device. The number of electrodes is directly related to the number of channels available in the machine. In general, two-channel stimulators can support up to eight electrodes.
• Modes/Programs: Modes increase the effectiveness of the devices, since they allow the treatment of a greater variety of ailments, in the case of TENS; as well as access to a greater variety of training modes, in the case of EMS. The more programs a device has, the greater its versatility.
• Intensity levels: these are directly related to each mode individually, i.e., each program has a certain number of intensity levels that increase the penetration capacity of the electrical impulses and heat waves, increasing their effectiveness.
• Type of screen: directly influences the user-friendliness of the device. Touch screens may offer better visualization of modes and levels, but may be more complex for certain populations. Analog screens offer less visibility, but a more direct approach to their modes of use. The type of display on a device primarily impacts its ease of use and price, but not the performance of the equipment.
• Wireless: this is an important factor in the portability of the equipment, since it is necessary to determine whether it will be necessary for the user to keep the device on his or her person and, therefore, to decide whether a device that requires constant connection to power, or a wireless one, is desirable.
• Heat therapy: a very useful feature in terms of the treatment of bone and rheumatic joint ailments and muscle relaxation. It is not a feature that is present in all devices, so the price of those that do include it tends to be higher.
• Size: this has a direct impact on the ease of use, mobility and portability of the device. Larger and heavier electrostimulators tend to work with constant connection to an electrical source, limiting their versatility and completely eliminating their portability.
• Portable: this is a necessity that varies according to the buyer's requirements. A portable electro stimulator is a better option when the user requires short sessions at certain times of the day. The device needs to be compact enough so that you can have it on your person.
• Types of electrodes pads: this is a factor that depends on the brand and model of electro stimulator. The most expensive and best quality electrodes usually have specially adapted electrodes which can only be replaced by special order. Electro stimulators compatible with universal pads are usually of lower quality, but much cheaper in comparison.
• Battery type: the type of battery to choose depends entirely on your portability needs. Devices powered by rechargeable lithium batteries tend to be more expensive, but more durable, and in the long run represent a lower expense than AA battery stimulators, which require a constant expense in battery replacement.
• Pre-programmed timer: this is not an indispensable feature, although it can be very useful to specifically measure the duration of each therapy. Not all devices have this feature, although in most cases it does not affect the price.
• Combo: having a device that includes TENS therapy, EMS and Thermotherapy is an excellent investment, although in general a device with all these functions can be quite expensive.
• Interferential: it is an excellent alternative for the treatment of ailments using low frequency impulses. It is not a feature found in conjunction with other types of therapy in all electrostimulators, but finding interferential therapy stimulators is fairly straightforward.
• Warranty: Warranty may vary slightly from one brand to another, and from one point of sale to another. However, in regions such as Europe, the minimum warranty by law is two years.
• Price: the relevance of this factor is determined by the economic capacity of the buyer, which must be realistically adapted to his needs, in order to obtain the best balance between economy and coverage of his requirements.

Differences between TENS and EMS: Which one is better for me?

Electrostimulation devices are one of the best and safest forms of physiotherapy available today, although it is necessary to have a certain level of knowledge about the applications of both Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) in order to apply them correctly and obtain optimal results.

TENS Units

• Treatment of acute ailments: recent pains can be treated quickly by means of TENS therapy for a more effective recovery in a shorter time.
• Treatment of chronic pain: with the use of a lower frequency for longer periods of time, it is possible to reduce pain caused by chronic ailments.
• Muscle relaxation: the low intensity of its electrical discharges promotes the relaxation of muscle and fibrous tissue, reducing its tension and minimizing the sensation of pain caused by such tension.
• Ailments caused by hormonal imbalances: hormonal conditions such as endometriosis or dysmenorrhea can cause quite severe ailments, for which TENS therapy has proven to be an effective solution.
• Pain caused by rheumatic diseases: TENS therapy is very useful for rheumatic and joint conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, thanks to its effects on the nervous tissue of the affected joints.

EMS Electrostimulators

• Muscle toning: it is possible to improve the condition of muscle tissue by means of EMS electrostimulation therapy.
• Maintaining and resuming physical activity: it can be used to recover part of the physical condition after long periods of sedentary life or recovery from surgical procedures.
• Rehabilitation of the musculature after injuries: it is a method widely applied in the fields of physiotherapy to regain muscular condition after the injury recovery process.
• Increased muscle tissue recovery: the electrical impulses of EMS therapy promote the activation of muscle tissue, which promotes the regeneration of fibers.

Contraindications for the use of TENS and EMS machines with heat effect