How to use a TENS units & EMS machines for migraines & headaches? Placement of electrode pads

In 2009, 50% of the world's population suffered from headaches constantly. By 2017, this number had risen to 75%, leaving a clear sign that more and more of us are affected by an ailment that, in itself, hides an uncertain number of causes.

In most cases, people turn to painkillers and other drugs to relieve pain, but TENS electrotherapy is a much more natural way to do it, without the risk of side effects. Below you will learn more about it and how it can help you neutralize your headaches and migraines.

How to use TENS machines for headache relief?

Using a TENS unit is quite simple, but we understand that it can be confusing at first. That is why we are going to show you below how to place the electrodes, and what intensity of current to use to relieve your headaches in just a few minutes.

Where to place the electrodes?

The placement of TENS electrodes on the skull follows the same principles as on other parts of the body. The first thing to do is to identify the point of pain and place the pads in an area where they "enclose" the pain so that the current flows through it.

Which current to use?

The voltage of the TENS currents is always the same, what we can modify is the frequency to be used, which can be between 1 Hz and 200 Hz. To treat headache we can use a frequency between 2 Hz and 4 Hz to stimulate the release of endorphins. While if we want to relieve more intense pain we can focus on the threshold of 80 Hz and 100 Hz.

Best TENS units to treat migraines

The OSITO brand has one of the most versatile and practical models of wireless electro-stimulator on the market, with TENS and EMS electrotherapy functions, which will allow you to provide relief for any type of ailment, while creating electrical pulses that activate the muscle fibres, greatly improving your physical condition.

Its compact size and long-lasting rechargeable lithium battery make it the epitome of portability, as you can take it anywhere. It has 11 modes of use and 25 intensity levels that allow for a profound relief effect. Each of the 11 modes provides a different type of massage and because the electrical impulses stimulate the human body's pain tolerance capacity, it does not require the use of medication.

The AUVON electro stimulator is at the forefront of electro stimulation technology, combining TENS and EMS stimulation technologies to obtain one of the most complete treatments for acute and chronic pain, caused by injuries or illnesses, as well as an incredible complement for physical conditioning thanks to its muscle stimulation technology.

It has 20 modes of use that apply different types of massages oriented to treat a wide variety of ailments, and with its independent channel control mode you will have the possibility of configuring different programs for each of the channels individually, to apply different types of massages in various areas of the body.

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 Belifu muscle stimulator is the perfect combination of TENS and EMS electrostimulation modalities, through which you can apply massages to relieve pain in a natural way, as well as generate muscle contractions that increase the size, strength and tone of the muscle, all in a completely safe and natural way, stimulating the body's natural processes.

It has 24 modes of use and 20 intensity levels that can be applied in isolation to each of the device's channels thanks to its dual channel function, allowing different therapies to be applied to separate areas of the body. In addition, it has a session timer mode and automatic shut-off that will allow you to give greater efficiency to your sessions and make better use of the energy of its high-capacity lithium battery.

This electric massage unit provided by iReliev is one of the most versatile and, at the same time, simplest electrostimulation machines you can find, with 8 predefined modes of use 25 adjustable intensity levels, you can program it to fit your body's needs. Additionally, its dual channel function allows you to program more than one massage mode simultaneously to treat multiple areas of the body.

It has an interesting session timer function that allows you to adjust the duration of each therapy up to a maximum of 60 minutes. Its compact size allows it to be carried in your pocket, so you can take it with you from home to work, or on the road, and use it whenever you need it.

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.

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 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.

This is a precise and compact wireless TENS electrostimulation device, brought to you by the iReliev brand, intended for the treatment of pain at precise points of the body. Thanks to its size and the fact that it does not require any wires to operate, it is completely discreet and can be used anywhere, while traveling and under clothing.

Its efficient use of TENS technology allows it to block pain signals before they reach the brain, making it a safe method of treating ailments. It also has a long-lasting lithium battery and an energy-efficient function, which turns the device off every 20 minutes. One of the best devices on the market in terms of portability, discretion and functionality.

Among the various products offered by the AccuRelief brand, its remote-controlled TENS electrostimulation unit has a lot of very interesting functions and features. It is based on TENS stimulation technology to influence the production of endorphins, which act as natural painkillers in the body.

The package includes 1 wireless remote control operating on AAA batteries 2 electrode control units, 2 reusable gel pads and an instruction manual. The ergonomic and compact design of the pads allows them to be used anywhere on the body, and they are discreet enough to be worn under clothing. It has 3 modes of use and 20 levels of intensity designed for safe and fast pain relief.

Video: How to place electrodes pads to relieve headache pain?

Electrodes for head

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Are EMS machines effective for strengthening muscles and preventing headaches?

As we have discussed throughout the multiple articles on this website, EMS electrostimulation is designed to strengthen muscle mass and its use is not specific to pain relief. While EMS can strengthen certain parts of the neck and neck and thus avoid weaknesses that can trigger pain, for migraines and headaches are not the best option, for that we have the aforementioned TENS currents. They may be effective when the headache is about neck and cervical tensions

What are migraines and what are the causes?

Headache is any painful sensation anywhere in the skull. It is often called by various names around the world; such as migraine, a severe neurological disease that can cause disability or migraine, a form of intense headache that is accompanied by vomiting and dizziness, but the reality is that it is actually a symptom of these and other diseases, and often may not even have a pathological or malignant cause.

Among the most common causes, we can highlight the following:

• Stress: raises cortisol levels, which is manifested in the body with acute headaches, especially in the temples.
• Insomnia: not sleeping well has the same effect as the previous cause, raising cortisol levels and generating headache that may be accompanied by pain in the eye sockets.
• Sinusitis: prolonged nasal congestion generates tension in the upper part of the skull, which manifests itself with intense pain in the region of the forehead and temples that appears on a regular basis.
• Brain pathologies: any medical problem affecting the brain will manifest with pain in different areas of the head.
• Excessive use of medications: some medications can alter your organism so much that they generate headache as a side effect that begins to show days or weeks after starting their consumption.

The reality is that a headache can hide a countless number of causes, so it is always important to consult a specialist when these appear too regularly. This way you will be able to rule out severe pathologies such as the following:

• Migraine.
• STROKE.
• Cardiovascular accident.
• Brain tumor.
• Cerebral aneurysms.

What are the most common types of headaches?

Just as their causes can be varied, there is a wide range of ways to classify headaches. Below you will learn about the main ways in which this ailment presents itself in people who suffer from it.

• Migraine headache: it is an intense pain in one of your temples, which is accompanied by other symptoms such as vomiting, altered vision and dizziness.
• Tension pain: this is a dull, persistent pain felt in both temples and forehead, usually caused by stress, lack of sleep or anxiety. It may be accompanied by tenderness in the face and neck, or pain in the eye socket.
• Cluster pain: is an intense and very repetitive pain that may occur several times a day. People describe it as a burning in the forehead and eye socket that may be accompanied by watery eyes, swollen eyelids and nasal congestion.
• Exertional headache: a feeling of tension in the whole head or in the temples that is very common after extensive exertion such as running, jumping or lifting heavy weights.
• Hypnic pain: a sharp pain in the temples that usually appears for no apparent reason, very common in people over 50 years old. It is known as "alarm clock pain" because it can start while you sleep and wake you up during the night, interrupting the sleep cycle.

There are 6 other types of headaches that are considered secondary because they manifest in a similar way to the previous ones, but are directly related to other conditions.

These are:

• Pain due to excessive medication.
• Menstrual pain.
• Sinus pain.
• Headache due to caffeine excess.
• Headache due to traumatic brain injury.
• Hangover headache.

Differences between TENS and EMS: Which is better for treating headache pain?

Electrotherapy is an option that has gained popularity to treat various pains, including headaches, by offering quick relief without the use of drugs of any kind. Among them we have TENS and EMS, which are the best known at present.

TENS or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, is a therapy that uses high and medium intensity currents, which when used on the skull, directly alter the way in which pain is generated and perceived in the brain. In this way, a sensation of relief is generated because the patient's resistance to pain is directly increased.

EMS or muscular electrostimulation is different, since it focuses on strengthening and toning the muscles, so although it can be used to relieve tension in the cervical area, it is not very effective for treating headaches due to the aforementioned causes.

So to relieve headache pain, without a doubt what you should buy is a TENS stimulation device, since it is designed exclusively for this purpose.

Contraindications in the use of the electrodes and electrotherapy