How to use a TENS units & EMS machines for abdominal pain relief? Placement of electrode pads (UK)

The abdomen, being an area of the core responsible for providing stability between the upper and lower body, is often subjected to a lot of stress, especially during high-impact activities such as basketball, tennis or soccer.

This causes it to suffer from various types of ailments and injuries, but all of them can be relieved with the application of electrotherapy, which is why we are going to show you how to use both TENS and EMS for the treatment of pain and strengthening of this area.

How to use a TENS machine to relieve belly pain?

TENS units will help you to relieve abdominal pain thanks to the intensity of the current that brings benefits such as:

• Raises the pain threshold: TENS currents reach the abdominal cutaneous nerve right at the terminal branch of the T7-T12 thoracoabdominal nerves found deep in the tissue of the rectus and oblique muscles of the abdomen, which allows blocking the pain receptors of the same, and raising the threshold or resistance to any pain in the area.
• Limits pain-producing cells: the abdominal area is full of nociceptors, receptors that perceive the medullary cells responsible for transmitting pain information to the nerves, which are limited and slowed down by the current to prevent them from sending the necessary signal to the brain to cause the acute sensation of pain that we want to avoid.
• Alterations in the reciprocal innervation: which generates a generalized relaxation of the abdominal muscles in which the electrostimulation is applied and their opposite or antagonist muscles, avoiding the involuntary contraction of the fibers that is done instinctively when feeling an acute pain in any part of the body.
• Vasodilation: the currents at the abdominal level will generate heat to open the blood vessels of the rectus or oblique muscles, depending on the area of the abdomen where the TENS is applied, which generates a natural analgesic sensation that helps reduce pain even after the pads have been removed from the body.

These characteristics make transcutaneous nerve electrostimulation extremely useful for the treatment of problems such as:

• Abdominal overload
• Abdominal sprain
• Post-workout DOMS
• Abdominal contusion pain (as long as there is no severe internal organ damage)
• Abdominal Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome

However, it should be noted that TENS therapy should never be applied in cases where vital organ damage is suspected within the abdominal cavity, or when any infection or internal bleeding is suspected as vasodilation could accelerate the patient's blood loss.

Best TENS machines for abdominal injury recovery

Here are a series of transcutaneous nerve stimulation machines that are ideal for treating all types of abdominal muscle pain:

The AUVON electrostimulation unit is one of the best options for the treatment of nerve and muscle ailments, as well as a great addition to fitness. This is because it combines transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation technology with muscle electrostimulation, making it one of the most versatile devices on the market.

It has an independent dual-channel control mode, which allows you to treat different parts of the body with different settings and intensities as required. You can select from 20 preset massage modes, each designed to relieve certain types of pain and produce an overall sense of relief.

The Med-Fit 3 electrostimulator is a powerful electrostimulation unit that is at the forefront of electrotherapy technology, combining TENS and EMS stimulation technologies with a dual channel function, so you can treat different parts of the body individually, either to treat ailments of any kind or to stimulate muscle development.

Its transcutaneous electrical stimulation function offers an infallible form of acute and chronic pain relief through electrical impulses that block pain signals and promote the production of endorphins, making it ideal for treating the symptoms of arthritis, sciatica, muscle pain, joint pain and much more.

PainGone offers its PainGone Easy, an incredibly effective wireless TENS device that will allow you to treat pain in the back, arms, legs, shoulders and other parts of the body. Its portability makes it one of the most convenient stimulation devices on the market, so you can have pain relief treatment without any medication.

It has a multi-setting function, offering 3 modes of use with 12 intensity levels to suit your condition, and its adaptable electrodes allow PainGone Easy to reach virtually any area of the body. Additionally, its long-lasting lithium battery will give you enough power for at least 80 sessions before you need to get a replacement, which you can easily access on the brand's website.

The Hollywog WiTouch Pro is a muscle stimulator that helps relieve pain caused by injuries naturally and without the use of drugs with potential side effects. Its TENS electrostimulation technology stimulates the production of endorphins and provides a pleasant feeling of relief for all types of ailments caused by injury or illness.

With a size of 19 cm wide and 9 cm high, the WiTouch has the widest area of action on the market, with a current output strength of 0 - 110 mA for maximum effectiveness. It has a 2-button function that allows you to quickly change the device settings, and includes 3 reusable gel pads in the package you receive.

From EOSVAP comes this wonderful wireless electrostimulation device, effective for back pain, sciatica, arthritis and muscular ailments although its range of function is so wide that it can be used almost anywhere on the body portability and rechargeable battery make it an excellent investment when it comes to pain relief.

It has 7 intensity levels and 5 massage modes for instant pain relief in a natural and completely drug-free way. Its rechargeable lithium battery provides 24 hours of continuous use on a single charge, and can be charged via its USB connectors. Undoubtedly a complete revolution in the massage experience that you can keep in your pocket and take anywhere thanks to its small size.

How to use an EMS muscle electrostimulator for the abdominals?

If you are looking to strengthen the core muscles, a muscle electro stimulator is an excellent option because the currents of between 70 Hz and 150 Hz generate an effective and intense contraction in the fibers to simulate those we get during training.

This electrotherapy is very useful for people who do not have time to go to a gym to do abdominal exercises, or for athletes who want to dedicate more hours to abdominal strengthening and toning even after leaving the gym, and even for those who are recovering from an injury and want to keep in shape or recover the competitive rhythm little by little before starting more intense sessions.

Among the most outstanding uses and benefits of EMS electrotherapy we can highlight:

• Strengthening and muscle toning of the rectus abdominis and obliques thanks to the intense contractions that emulate those we get when doing exercises such as push-ups or planks.
• Reduction of fatigue, since it optimizes the oxygen consumption of the muscle fibers that make up the obliques and rectus abdominis by up to 16%, increasing the threshold of muscle exhaustion by up to 20%.
• Improves the power of the muscles as it improves the recruitment of fibers of both the external obliques, as well as the serratus and transverse abdominis, allowing for more explosive movements of the entire musculature in general.
• Stops the loss of muscle tissue in the belly and abdomen, in turn preventing the degradation of the pelvic floor tissues which in turn can lead to problems of urinary incontinence or weakness in the legs typical of the elderly.
• Improves blood flow through vasodilation, which will facilitate both the access of oxygen and nutrients to the various muscles that make up the Core, creating a healthier ecosystem in which these may be more resistant to injury, or accelerate recovery from them.

Best EMS electro stimulators to strengthen abdominal muscles

Here are some of the best EMS electro stimulators to strengthen abdominal muscles in those hours when you can not go to the gym.

This is the latest model in the SP series of electro-stimulators from Compex. The Compex SP 8.0 is the ideal exercise tool for professional athletes, offering a powerful EMS stimulation system that produces muscle contractions that increase strength, volume, tone and muscle elasticity, allowing you to use it before exercise to improve your performance, and after exercise to facilitate recovery.

It features MI tracking technology, which allows the SP 8.0 to perform a quick automatic muscle scan, and set the appropriate program according to the goal you want to achieve. This professional-grade training device will revolutionize the way you exercise, as it is designed for athletes who practice their discipline on a daily basis.

Beuer brings to its users a line of training belts and bands that will change the way you work your abdominal and lower back muscles. It is particularly the EM39 EMS 2 in 1 model that will allow you to work the mentioned muscle groups simultaneously, with programmable intensity and adjustable to any waist size in a range of 75 cm to 130 cm.

The EM39 EMS belt comes complete with 3 x 1.5v AAA batteries required for operation. It has a number of incredibly practical features for the application of muscle electrostimulation, including ergonomic design, session timer, adjustable intensity and the ability to wash it safely by hand. All this makes it an excellent choice for muscle training.

The Brrnoo abdominal training belt is a wonderful option to remove localized fat from the abdominal area through the application of electrical micro impulses and TENS stimulation technology, thanks to the diversity of use modes it has, from which you can choose to obtain different results according to your needs.

The purchase package contains a 100% new electrostimulation belt made of polyurethane leather, together with an extension strap, a USB charging cable, 4 hydrogel tubes and a user manual in English. Its operation is really simple, and you will be able to use it to reinforce your training in a very easy way.

For a very reasonable price, the Slendertone store has available to the public its versatile Abs8 muscle stimulation belt, a nylon belt with 10 modes and 150 intensity levels, with which you will have access to clinically proven muscle stimulation, which will activate your muscle fibers naturally for incredible results.

The belt is suitable for a wide range of ages, so you can start your workout with this innovative electrostimulation belt at any time. The effectiveness of the Abs8 is backed by a large majority of its users, who saw results in as little as 4 weeks.

The MarCool Trip MZ abdominal electro-stimulator is one of the best options in terms of training equipment for the conditioning of the abdomen and lower back area, with a specialized cutting-edge design to maximize localized fat loss and muscle strengthening.

The garment is made of acrylonitrile which makes it completely breathable, washable and resistant to various types of stress, and its easy method of use will allow you to lose fat quickly with only 15 minutes of use per day. Without a doubt one of the best investments you can make if you want to improve your appearance and physical condition.

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

Electrodes for abdomen

• For pain in the pelvis: In the case of pain in the pelvis or belly, you should lie on your back and place a positive electrode in the lower part of the inner rectus abdominis, while the negative in the same area of the other lower rectus.
• For oblique distention: In the case of the obliques, you should never stimulate both at the same time, even if you have a machine with more than two electrodes. What should be done is to place one of them in the upper part of the affected external oblique, just at the beginning of the serratus major muscle, and the other in the lower part of the internal abdominal oblique.
• For the rectus abdominis: To work the rectus abdominis, the electrode is placed on each one of them, preferably on one side of the abdomen and then on the other side.
• For the obliques: For the obliques you should also work one side and then the other and never try to use EMS on both at the same time, placing a pair of electrodes on the lateral area of the core, while to strengthen the pelvic floor you position the electrodes in the lower abdominal area on the transverse and lower rectus abdominals.

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Most common types of abdominal injuries and pains

The abdomen is one of the most delicate areas of the body as it contains most of the vital organs. Among the most common injuries we can identify the following:

• Abdominal hernia: this is a bulge in an organ that protrudes through an open region of the abdomen. The most common ones usually appear in the navel and generate a sharp pain when performing a considerable physical effort, although in most cases they do not usually generate any type of symptom.
• Abdominal tear: occurs when the muscle fibers of the abdomen are partially or completely torn, generating an opening that could even generate the appearance of a hernia.
• Abdominal contusion: a sharp pain generated by a strong blow received in the abdomen that can lead to muscle damage in the obliques, rectus abdominis or any other abdominal area. It is important to consult the extent of the blow because it could cause damage to internal organs.
• Abdominal overload: a generalized ailment in certain abdominal muscles as a result of excessive use of these muscles either when training or practicing a high-impact sport.

Being an area that occupies so many internal organs, the ailments mentioned above may be a symptom of other problems related to these organs. For this reason, when suffering from any of them, it is always advisable to see a specialist to prevent potentially fatal problems such as:

• Hepatitis: a viral condition that causes inflammation of the liver and other abdominal organs that can be life-threatening if not treated correctly and rest is not taken.
• Nephritis: condition characterized by inflammation of the kidney tissues, which hinders its functioning, putting the patient's life at risk due to fluid retention and blood intoxication, which eventually leads to severe damage to other vital organs such as the liver, lungs or heart.
• Appendicitis: obstruction and inflammation of the appendix that occurs when the appendix fills with pus, generating an infection that if left untreated can lead to peritonitis.
• Peritonitis: inflammation of the tissue lining the abdominal walls and internal organs that is usually caused by leakage of intestinal waste. It must be treated immediately as it is life-threatening or at best can cause irreparable damage to the intestine.
• Nephritic colic: obstruction of the urinary tract that generates a strong and unbearable pain in the lower or lateral region of the abdomen that must be treated quickly to avoid severe damage to the patient's renal system.

These are just some of the most common problems that usually manifest themselves through abdominal pain, but we can highlight others such as:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm
• Cholangitis
• Cystitis
• Diabetic ketoacidosis
• Diverticulitis
• Duodenitis
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Fecal impaction
• Heart attack
• Intestinal occlusion
• Kidney stones
• Liver abscess (a pus-filled pocket in the liver)
• Mesenteric ischemia (decreased blood flow to the intestines)

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

Electrostimulation therapies are an option to treat the symptoms of abdominal pain, as well as to strengthen the muscles around them. In this sense we have in the first place EMS or muscular electrostimulation, which consists of the use of high frequency currents to achieve an abdominal contraction that simulates those we achieve naturally when training in the gym.

Secondly, we have TENS or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, which consists of the use of low and high frequency currents to block the pain receptors located in the abdominal area, so that we can achieve an analgesic effect to stop feeling an ailment.

There are two considerable differences between one therapy and the other. While EMS generates a contraction at the muscle level in the abdomen and is responsible for strengthening the abdominal muscles, TENS feels more like a tingling at the skin level and not a contraction, but provides a feeling of relief.

Knowing this, we can assure that TENS therapy is the most indicated for the treatment of pain, since it is responsible for increasing the sensory threshold of the same, and blocking the pain receptors in the abdomen to achieve considerable relief of the ailment.

However, while transcutaneous electrostimulation therapy helps to reduce the intensity of acute pain, it is not a curative therapy. Therefore, it does not mean that by using it you will be able to treat the origin of the problem, which as mentioned in the previous section may be due to serious problems in the internal organs located in the core and abdominal area.

Contraindications for the use of electrodes and electrotherapy