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

In the field of sports, the hamstrings are one of the most important muscle groups, which is why they are subject to constant stress in highly competitive sports, such as football, basketball or tennis. Because of this, injuries such as strains or tears are very common in them.

Fortunately, electrostimulation therapies with TENS and EMS machines can be of great help in dealing with the pain caused by these injuries, which is why we will show you how to use these devices to relieve pain and discomfort in the hamstring muscles.

How to use a TENS machine to relieve hamstring pain?

TENS therapy units are designed for the purpose of relieving pain in athletes and people with muscle, nerve and joint ailments.

Therefore, it has a variety of uses and benefits, among which we can mention:

• Raises the pain threshold: the discharges used by the TENS unit directly affect the pain receptors in the femoral area located in the sciatic nerve and its branches, to increase the resistance to pain during the session and several minutes after it.
• Limits pain-producing cells: through this therapy, the cell groups along the hamstrings, which are responsible for provoking the sensation of pain, are suppressed, producing a sensation of immediate relief in the patient.
• Alterations in the reciprocal innervation: in this way a relaxation of the quadriceps tendon, the semitendinosus tendon and the internal rectus tendon is achieved, causing an analgesic effect.
• Vasodilation: the currents applied on the femoral muscles generate heat, which generates the dilation of the blood vessels that run through the muscle group, creating in turn a feeling of local analgesia, and favoring the maintenance of a feeling of relief minutes after the TENS session.

The aforementioned benefits make transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation therapy a very viable option for relieving pain caused by injuries such as:

• Tear of the biceps femoris tendon
• Muscle trauma
• Contractures
• Cramps
• Contusions

It is important to say that TENS electrotherapy is not intended for the treatment and recovery of injuries, but as a means of relieving pain caused by injuries. Basically, it will not cure the injury, but it will help to minimize the symptoms. Rehabilitation of hamstring injuries should be supervised by a specialist, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation will only make the process more comfortable for the patient.

Best TENS machines for hamstring injury recovery

Here is a list of some of the most commonly used TENS therapy machines on the market, which you can purchase and use to relieve the pain caused by the different injuries that can occur in the femoral region.

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.

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 UseeShine electrostimulator from NinetinGel is the perfect combination of TENS and EMS electrostimulation technologies, which gives it the ability to offer a complete cycle of massages designed to relieve pain, reduce tension and relax muscles through electrical impulses that promote the release of endorphins and the production of muscle fibers.

It is incredibly easy to use, and features an innovative dual-channel function that allows you to simultaneously treat different parts of the body with different settings, along with a memory function that stores the last massage program used. Its ergonomic and portable design allows you to take it anywhere and use it very discreetly.

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.

The PowerDot 2.0 is an intelligent electrical stimulation electrode that will allow you to apply TENS and EMS current shocks for both pain treatment and conditioning of different muscle groups. It includes more than 400 customised programmes that can be easily managed with the mobile app available for both Android and iOS.

The simple interface of the PowerDot app will guide you through everything you need to know to operate the electrodes efficiently. The purchase package includes 2 pre-loaded pods, 2 sets of electrodes with corresponding pads, 2 sets of cables and 2 micro USB charging cables, along with a carrying case so you can take your electrodes with you wherever you go.

How to use an EMS muscle electro stimulator for the femoral?

For the hamstring muscles, EMS therapy is very useful for muscle training, strengthening and rehabilitation. The muscles that will benefit from the application of EMS therapy are the semitendinosus muscle, the semimembranosus muscle and the biceps femoris, from which you can develop strength, flexibility and resistance against future injuries.

In addition, you will be able to enjoy benefits such as:

• Improved posture: strengthening the hamstring muscles generates greater balance and facilitates proper posture, which in turn will help relieve tension in the lower back and much of the spine.
• Prevention of further injury: the recovery of muscle fibers facilitates increased muscle endurance, reducing the chances of future injury.
• Facilitates the drainage of metabolic waste: the electrical impulses provoked by the EMS device promote the process of autophagy, or muscle cleansing, helping the disposal of harmful substances such as used organelles and toxic proteins.
• Improves muscle recovery: the stimulation received by the muscles increases the recovery capacity of the muscle fibers, which in turn considerably reduces the recovery time from injuries.
• Improves blood irrigation by up to 20%, thanks to the vasodilatation produced by the electric shocks, which will increase the capacity of the muscles to receive blood, allowing better oxygenation of the tissues and assimilation of nutrients, strengthening the muscle group of the femoral area.

Best EMS electrostimulators to strengthen femoral muscles

EMS therapy electrostimulators are widely used by medical teams in highly competitive sports, because although they are not indicated for the treatment of pain, it makes a big difference in strength training and muscle definition. For this, some of the following EMS devices are used.

The versatile Compex SP 6.0 electrostimulator is one of the best options for increasing physical performance thanks to its 10 conditioning programs and 5 fitness training programs, allowing you to increase both the strength and volume of your muscles quickly and naturally, through electrical impulses that stimulate the growth of muscle fibers.

It also has 5 recovery massage programs, 8 pain management modes and 2 rehabilitation programs, through which the Compex SP 6.0 facilitates rapid physical recovery and promotes muscle relaxation after exercise. It is the best electric massage unit for athletes who practice their discipline more frequently than 3 times a week.

NURSAL brings to its users its dual channel TENS electrostimulation unit, designed for the treatment of any type of ailments and muscle stimulation, which has 24 modes of use designed to provide different types of massages to treat a wide variety of ailments, whether caused by illness or injury.

You will be able to set separate modes of use for each of the two channels, so that you can apply the electrical impulses at the required frequency and intensity for different parts of the body. It also has an adjustable timer that will allow you to program your sessions between 10 and 60 minutes, and its integrated lithium battery will provide uninterrupted treatment for more than 20 hours.

Dioche offers its users a powerful rechargeable electrostimulation machine that has a 4-channel function, through which you can obtain results much more quickly and efficiently, thanks to the fact that you can apply the therapies in various areas of the body.

It has 16 programs of use that apply different massage modalities focused on treating certain ailments, in addition to having 20 adjustable intensity levels that allow you to configure your therapies in the way that suits you best. It also has a rechargeable battery that you can connect to the mains via an AC adapter or USB charging, and will give you an autonomy of between 4 and 6 hours of continuous use.

The best feature of the MKNIUA electro stimulator is its 4-channel functionality, through which you can use 8 electrodes to apply individual programs on each channel to different areas of the body, so you can assign a specific massage mode according to what each area of the body requires.

The package includes 4 reusable electrodes through which you can apply the electric massages. It also has a long-lasting rechargeable battery that gives you a great autonomy and a long useful life, so you can enjoy this versatile stimulator for a long time.

TensCare offers its users its newest and most versatile electrostimulation device that combines the most cutting-edge TENS and EMS technologies, offering a massage experience designed to relieve all types of ailments naturally and safely, through electrical impulses that stimulate the production of endorphins, along with the most innovative muscle strengthening technology that facilitates the toning and regeneration of muscles from the comfort of your home.

It has 6 programs specifically designed for various muscle groups of different sizes, as well as 2 customizable programs to suit your needs. It has functions specifically focused on user safety, so it has an open circuit detector, which means that if an electrode is detached from the skin, the current intensity will be set to 0 to avoid risky electric shocks.

Video: How to place the electrodes pads on the back of the thigh?

Electrodes for hamstring

• For hamstring pain: With this in mind, to treat hamstring pain, you should position the first electrode on the muscle belly of the semitendinosus, in the center of the thigh, while the second electrode should be placed in relation to the section of the muscle group where the pain is concentrated. This can be on a higher or lower portion of the semitendinosus muscle, as well as the semimembranosus muscle or the biceps femoris.
• For hamstring tendonitis: To relieve pain from injuries such as hamstring tendonitis, you should proceed to place one electrode at the highest point of the hamstrings, at the upper junction of the semitendinosus and biceps femoris, just below the gluteal region, and the second electrode at the lower region of the biceps femoris, just above the popliteal fossa.

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Most common types of hamstring injuries

The hamstrings are among the most important muscles in terms of lower body motricity, being responsible for hip extension and knee flexion, and receiving considerable impact in a variety of highly competitive sports.

Because of this, hamstring injuries are very common, and among them we can highlight the following:

• Hamstring strain: occurs when one or more muscles in this region are overstretched, causing injury to the muscle fibers. Its main causes derive from overexertion without proper preparation or warm-up, and can cause pain when extending or flexing the leg, tenderness, swelling and weakness.
• Partial or total rupture: it is a very common injury among highly competitive athletes, which consists of a tearing of the muscle fibers. The intensity of this injury can vary depending on the depth of the tear of the fibers, and can cause swelling, bruising, tenderness and severe pain.
• Hamstring tendonitis: is a consequence of the sudden transition between maximum contraction and maximum stretch of the muscle, causing a sharp and disabling pain just below the gluteal area.
• Femoral nerve impingement: acute pain caused by shortening or compression of the nerve that runs along the femur. This can be felt not only in the hamstrings, but also in the rest of the thigh and even defer to the calf.
• Iliotibial band syndrome: consists of the constant inflammation of the lateral band of the thigh that connects the iliac bone with the external face of the knee, essential for the stability of the lower limbs. This condition can be repetitive to the point of becoming chronic.

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

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is a nerve treatment that uses electrical discharges whose intensity varies between 1 and 250 Hz, to numb the nerve endings responsible for generating the sensation of pain. Its objective is to increase the general resistance to pain and generate a sensation of relief in the affected area.

Unlike TENS, muscle electrostimulation, or EMS, is a physical training and rehabilitation therapy whose objective is to increase the strength of muscles and muscle groups by means of electrical impulses applied directly to them, which promote an increase in muscle mass, elasticity and the rate of recovery of muscle fibers.

With this information, we can conclude that the adequate therapy to alleviate pain caused by hamstring injuries is TENS, because it allows intercepting the nerve impulses from the pain receptors located along the affected muscle. EMS therapy, on the other hand, is not intended to deal with pain, to the point that in injuries that cause pain, muscle contractions provoked by an EMS device may be counterproductive.

Contraindications for the use of electrodes and electrotherapy