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

Although a large number of injuries locally affect a joint or nerve, there are disorders and conditions that can cause widespread pain in many areas of the body, greatly reducing the quality of life of those who suffer from these disorders. One of the most common of these conditions is fibromyalgia.

This disorder can greatly increase patients' sensitivity to pain, which can be generalized or localized, and for which it is necessary to find methods for the treatment of this particular symptom. This is where TENS and EMS electrotherapy comes in. In the following paragraphs, we will teach you the most salient characteristics and symptoms of fibromyalgia, and how to apply electrotherapies effectively to treat its symptoms.

How to use TENS machines to relieve chronic pain?

Since the main symptom that characterizes the condition of fibromyalgia is generalized pain, the effective application of TENS unit therapy can be very useful to prevent the condition from affecting the patient more than necessary.

Below, we will teach you what you need to know to apply TENS correctly:

Where to place the electrodes?

Unlike injuries or other disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome, whose symptoms focus on a specific area of the body, the pain caused by fibromyalgia affects the entire musculoskeletal system, so the pain occurs simultaneously throughout the body, being more intense in some areas than in others.

The areas in which the pain is most intense differ from one patient to another, and the positioning of the electrodes should prioritize these areas, being applied first to the area of the body in which the patient expresses the most intense pain.

From there, the ideal procedure is to apply the therapy over the areas in order of decreasing intensity, until the pain sensation is sufficiently reduced.

Which current to use?

The fact that fibromyalgia is a neurological disorder that affects the body in a generalized way at the nervous level, in addition to variations in the intensity of the pain it presents in different cases, makes it a complex task to define the ideal intensity for TENS treatment.

With this said, the priority in these cases is to numb the nerve endings of the affected area and to promote the release of endorphins that allow the patient to get rid of the pain sensation. For both purposes, the ideal base intensity is 100 Hz, which can be increased according to the intensity of pain presented by the patient.

Best TENS units for treating fibromyalgia pain

Taking into account the negative effect that fibromyalgia has on the nervous structure of the body, it is necessary to be aware of the devices that have the most effective programs and settings to treat its symptoms. Among these devices we can mention:

The physiotherapy brand Beurer offers its users one of the most versatile electrostimulation devices that can be found on the market. It is the Beurer EM59, which contains an incredible 4-in-1 function that allows you to apply therapeutic massage, muscle stimulation, nerve stimulation and heat therapy, providing a completely different level of relief to its users with its more than 70 programs and 50 intensity levels.

This powerful electrostimulation equipment offers immediate relief for almost any type of ailment using stimulation methods that stimulate the production of natural pain relieving agents within the body. It also works as an effective methods to accelerate muscle growth and regeneration, while combining with heat therapy to provide one of the most complete treatments you will find.

Omron has a wide range of electrostimulation devices in stock, including Omron HeatTens, which combines the therapeutic effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation with the effective method of heat therapy, resulting in one of the most complete relaxation and pain relief effects available on the market.

Its operation is really simplified, having 6 preset programs that focus on treating different areas of the body, which you can customize by modifying the 3 TENS massage modes, in combination with the 3 heat therapy modes. It is the best choice for joint and muscle ailments and you will get 1 Omrom HeatTens, 2 Omron gel pads, 1 power adapter and an instruction manual.

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.

The Med-Fit electrostimulation unit is the best option to increase the efficiency of workouts, thanks to its incredible 4-channel function, through which you can apply different modes of use to different areas of the body. It includes 9 clinically proven training programs and each of them has a predefined duration time of 3 hours.

It uses a combination of TENS and EMS stimulation technologies, which are completely safe and natural methods to alleviate various types of ailments and improve physical condition by stimulating the growth of muscle fibers. It is the best option for long-term management of chronic pain, allowing you to lead a completely normal life and perform all your daily activities.

The Med-Fit TENS unit is presented as the most viable and sophisticated option for the treatment of ailments of any kind, thanks to its innovative dual-channel function that allows you to treat the symptoms of diseases such as sciatica, arthritis, and muscle injuries in different areas of the body simultaneously.

Its electrostimulation method allows you to relieve chronic ailments through the application of mild electrical stimuli that inhibit pain signals and stimulate the production of endorphins. The best results are obtained when using this unit for 60 to 90 minutes. The use of this device is widely recommended because it does not interfere with any medical treatment and is completely safe.

The dual channel electrostimulator brought to the public by QUIWILL has revolutionized physiotherapy with electrostimulation thanks to its dual channel function, through which you can apply the TENS electrical impulses on different areas of the body simultaneously, through the 2 pairs of electrodes. All you need are daily sessions of between 15 and 20 minutes to obtain all the benefits of this complete electrostimulator.

It features 16 different massage modes with variable intensity in 16 levels, which can be adjusted individually in each of the channels to treat different ailments in different areas of the body. Its electrodes pads have a specialized design that maximizes conductivity and can be reused multiple times. The device is compact, portable and can be used very easily.

This is one of the most versatile electrostimulation devices you will find. The electrostimulation machine is fully rechargeable and has a dual channel function that allows you to apply electrostimulation to various areas of the body. It contains 30 preset massage programs through which you can relieve different types of ailments as well as strengthen muscles.

This electrostimulation unit is completely digital for an effective and reliable treatment. It has an LCD display and a user-friendly system that allows you to set the functions in seconds. In addition, the purchase includes 16 reusable electrodes of high quality and for all budgets.

The Patterson Medical Premier Plus electrostimulation unit is one of the most complete and functional devices you can find, thanks to its simple design focused on ease of use and its great versatility when applying TENS electrostimulation, it is designed with an analog operation system that makes it considerably easier for anyone to use it.

Its incredible dual channel function allows you to set different modes of use for dual channels A and B, so you can massage separate areas of the body simultaneously. Its compact size makes it incredibly portable, and it includes a belt clip that allows you to use your electro stimulator whenever and wherever you want.

The muscle stimulator sends an electric current through wires to electrodes on the skin and helps relieve body pain; improves sports injuries, arthritis and sciatica; stimulates muscles, improves blood circulation, relieves fatigue, improves immunity and sleep quality. 10 intensity levels allow precise adjustment of pulse amplitude and frequency, allowing optimal and sensitive control for pain relief; a pre-programmed timer can set a preset duration from 5 to 90 minutes.

The therapeutic device can be used by two users at the same time or by one user to relieve two locations. Treatment intensity is guaranteed at all times. It has 5 treatment modes (massage, acupuncture, tapping, scraping and cupping) to choose from to relieve headache, leg pain, shoulder pain, joint pain, stomach pain, hip pain and leg pain. Automatic treatment interruption, alarm if the electrode falls off.

Video: How to place electrodes pads for fibromyalgia?

Electrodes for arms

Electrodes for forearms

Electrodes for back

Electrodes for legs

Electrodes for calf

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What is fibromyalgia and what are the causes?

It is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by a generalized pain sensation that affects the musculoskeletal structure, in addition to producing fatigue, sleep disorders, memory problems and mood changes. It is believed that fibromyalgia affects the central nervous system amplifying the perception of pain.

The main symptoms of this disease are the following:

• Muscle and bone pain: Fibromyalgia causes widespread pain that is described as constant, mild and bothersome, lasting at least three months. The widespread pain affects both sides of the body, above and below the waist.
• Fatigue: the pain associated with fibromyalgia constantly disrupts patients' sleep, with others reporting waking up tired despite getting plenty of sleep, as well as suffering from other sleep disorders.
• Cognitive problems: Fibromyalgia causes difficulty in attention, concentration and focus, due to an effect called "fibrom fog".

What are the most common types of fibromyalgia?

The nature of fibromyalgia and its link to the motor apparatus, in conjunction with the multiple symptoms that accompany the disease, give it a variety of types that are classified according to different criteria.

The most commonly treated and common types of fibromyalgia are the following:

Idiopathic fibromyalgia (type I)

Idiopathic fibromyalgia is the type of fibromyalgia that produces in the patient a high sensitivity to pain. It is one of the most common types and unlike other types, the complaints are not associated with psychopathological processes.

Patients diagnosed with this type of fibromyalgia demonstrate a stable mood and usually a control over reactions to pain, although they also present severe cases of hyperalgesia (high sensitivity to pain).

Chronic disease fibromyalgia (type II)

Fibromyalgia type II is closely associated with chronic diseases of any type from degenerative to neoplastic, but most cases are diagnosed in patients suffering from chronic rheumatologic diseases.

One of the most common disorders leading to type II fibromyalgia is rheumatoid arthritis, in addition to many other systemic diseases and locoregional processes. The latter have a high probability of developing fibromyalgia.

Psychopathological fibromyalgia (type III)

This type of fibromyalgia is highly related to psychological disorders that make the involvement of a psychiatrist in the treatment of the disease indispensable. Type III fibromyalgia develops more easily in patients with severe psychopathological disturbances.

It is very common in patients with psychopathological pictures of anxiety, depression and dissociation, which derive in a hypersensitivity to pain and very low values of self-control over it.

Simulated fibromyalgia (type IV)

Consists of a group of patients who simulate fibromyalgia, taking advantage of the fact that the characteristics of the condition are well known and the lack of tests to diagnose it accurately.

It is usually done by individuals seeking to obtain a permanent leave from work, and once obtained, patients stop going to doctors' offices. There are certain objective tests to identify such patients, although they are not 100% accurate.

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

One of the most effective methods for the treatment of fibromyalgia is electrotherapy, thanks to its effects that favor direct pain relief. However, it is necessary to take into consideration the distinctions between Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS).

TENS is used as a physiotherapeutic technique that uses low-intensity electrical impulses to treat ailments caused by various injuries and disorders, including fibromyalgia. The main characteristics of this treatment are the following:

• Its electrical impulses range from 1 to 250 Hz.
• It interacts directly with the sensory branches of the areas most affected by fibromyalgia to reduce the sensation of pain.
• It is one of the most widely used methods for the treatment of symptoms caused by disorders such as fibromyalgia and similar.
• It is not a method to eliminate the disorder, only to make the treatment more bearable.

For its part, EMS is used as a method of physical training for athletes and as a method of physical rehabilitation therapy for the recovery of muscle mass after time of inactivity. It is identified by the following characteristics:

• It applies high base intensity electrical impulses, at a minimum of 70 Hz and a maximum of 150 Hz.
• It directly influences the muscle tissue by means of contractions that stimulate the regeneration of muscle fibers.
• It is widely used to increase muscle strength, endurance and elasticity.
• It does not interact directly with nervous tissue.

With this information, it is clear that TENS therapy is the ideal choice for treating the symptoms of fibromyalgia, thanks to its abilities to numb the nociceptors of the sensory branches of the nerves in the areas most affected by pain.

Because fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread pain, it is necessary to focus on the parts of the body that are subject to the most pain, and gradually move on to those with a more tolerable level of pain.

On the other hand, EMS is completely contraindicated for the treatment of pain caused by fibromyalgia, because this ailment does not qualify as an injury that requires physical rehabilitation, but as a neurological disorder that affects the brain and nervous system, so in the best case, EMS muscle stimulation will have no effect, while in the worst case it could cause even more pain in the patient.

Are EMS machines effective in strengthening muscles and preventing fibromyalgia?

Although EMS machines provide essential physical conditioning to prevent injuries and some types of disorders, fibromyalgia cannot be prevented by the use of muscle stimulation impulses, simply because the origin of the ailment is not muscular, but neurological and, in some cases, even psychological.

Specifically in cases such as fibromyalgia type III, related to psychopathological conditions, the origin is found in the psychiatric disorder that the patient may appear to have, rendering ineffective any attempt to apply physical therapy for the treatment or prevention of the disease.

Contraindications to the use of electrodes and electrotherapy