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

Period pain is possibly the ailment that all women in the world suffer the most during their lives, it can be considered as part of their life cycle, and although many get used to it, it never ceases to be an almost unbearable discomfort in some circumstances.

Fortunately, electrotherapy can be a great ally to help you eradicate the pain caused by cramps, menstruation or any other cause that is generating such discomfort in the lower abdominal area. That is why today we are going to show you how to use it to make your ailments disappear.

How to use TENS machines to relieve menstrual or belly pain?

As you may have noticed, the ideal therapy to relieve menstrual pain is TENS, so here we will show you in detail its benefits and how to use it to stop feeling that strong pain that ruins the days of menstruation.

Benefits

• Vasodilation: it will allow blood vessels to relax and dilate to allow more blood flow to the abdominal area, which will allow pain relief to be maintained even after your TENS session is over.
• Increases pain threshold: one of its greatest benefits is that unlike drugs it does not create dependence, so as you use TENS you will become more and more tolerant to menstrual pain, to the point that you will feel it as a mild discomfort without having to be glued to your electrotherapy device.
• Nerve and muscle relaxation: TENS is a healthy therapy for your nervous system as it strengthens it and helps it to relax, which will prevent other problems such as pinched nerves or neuropathies in the future.

What intensity to use?

One of the most important things to keep in mind to relieve your belly pain is the intensity of the current you should use. In this sense you have two options:

• 10Hz to 30Hz: you get a mild stimulation that will allow a relaxation of the nerves in case you have a pain that is not so intense.
• 40Hz to 80Hz: this is the frequency to use in case you have a very strong and intense pain that you cannot tolerate.

Best TENS units for menstrual pain relief

Here are a number of transcutaneous nerve stimulation machines that are ideal for treating all types of abdominal pain and cramps:

The Beurer brand offers a specialized model of portable electrode designed to relieve menstrual complaints. The EM50 uses an innovative combination of TENS electrostimulation and heat therapy to relieve pain caused by menstrual symptoms in a natural way. Its ergonomic and portable design offers great versatility for use anywhere, and features 15 adjustable intensity levels that you can tailor to your needs.

To deal with menstrual and endometriosis ailments, the EM50 makes use of its TENS stimulation modalities and a soothing heat wave, which can reach a temperature of 43°C (109°F), which will help relieve symptoms such as muscle cramps and other ailments. It is powered by a rechargeable battery that gives it an autonomy of up to 6 sessions.

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.

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.

Omega has available this fantastic and compact electro stimulator, called Omega Wireless Remote for its wireless function. Each of the electrodes is operated by means of a remote control, through which you can adjust and switch between the 6 available massage modes, making it one of the most practical and easy to use models on the market.

Its low intensity electric impulses offer a complete recovery of muscular and nervous pains, and its reusable electrodes have a superior quality adhesive gel, long lasting and easy to apply, so that each session can be carried out in a very simple way.

The Irest Massager brand brings for your use one of the best massage devices on the market. This is its classic mini TENS massage unit, which has 6 modes of use and is focused on relieving pain caused by injuries and diseases. It is particularly useful for joint ailments and neuropathies, although it can be used for almost any type of muscle or nerve pain.

It uses a combination of TENS and POMS technologies to apply low intensity electrical impulses to the affected area, which block pain signals, eliminating the sensation, and increasing the production of endorphins. It has 6 massage modalities and the package includes 1 control, 2 large electrodes, 2 small electrodes, 2 guide wires, 1 electrode and cable case and 1 massage treatment point guide.

The E3 model from OMRON is a TENS electrostimulator of compact size and great power, designed to be portable and used to relieve pain caused by exhaustion, injuries or diseases such as sciatica or neuropathy. This device uses TENS stimulation technology, proven and widely used by physiotherapists for its ability to relieve any type of pain.

It has a wide variety of pre-programmed modes of use designed to treat a wide range of ailments. Its compact size makes it incredibly convenient to carry wherever you want, and its specialized long-lasting electrodes can be washed and reused up to 150 times. The purchased package contains 1 OMRON E3 electrostimulator, 1 electrode cable and 1 long-lasting pad.

Dioche has available to the public one of the best TENS machines on the market, which stands out for its ease of use, versatility and portability. You can use it to relieve pain caused by various causes, from neuropathies and arthritis to injuries and muscle contractures.

One of its best features is the presence of a laser line for the nose that will allow you to treat rhinitis symptoms effectively, improving your health conditions considerably. The dual channel function of this rechargeable mini TENS machine allows you to treat multiple parts of the body simultaneously, bringing benefits such as improved circulation, reduced pain and accelerated metabolism.

Video: How to place electrodes pads on the abdominals?

Electrodes for abdomen

• Period pain: For menstrual pain, the electrodes are placed in the lower abdomen between the navel and the genital area, always prioritizing that the electrodes enclose the painful area.
• Cramps: Cramps can be felt in any area of the abdomen, although they occur more regularly in the lateral sections. Whatever their position, what you should do is to enclose the area of pain between the electrodes. If you have 4, the ideal is to place them in a diamond shape surrounding the point of pain and if you have only 2, place them in the middle of both.

More types of EMS electrostimulators and TENS machines you should know

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What are the causes of period pain?

Belly pain is undoubtedly one of the most common, especially in women, and although it is often attributed to a menstrual process, the truth is that it can have other causes that we will mention below.

• Colic: these are an accumulation of air in some abdominal area, which causes discomfort that depending on the amount of accumulated gases may be of lesser or greater intensity.
• Constipation: when eses accumulate for many days, they begin to generate pressure in the intestines that manifests itself as pain in the pelvic area. It is also very common for them to generate gas, which in turn causes cramping.
• Menstruation: this female biological process is one of the most common causes of belly pain, which is generated by the so-called menstrual cramps that have their origin in gases emanating from the bleeding characteristic of this process.
• Abdominal hernia: this is an opening in the abdominal walls that allows the tissue of an organ to protrude outward, which generates pain. Unlike the previous causes, this is a mostly active pain that manifests itself when the patient performs any activity that requires considerable effort in the abdominal area.
• Stomach infection: a stomach infection can generate wounds in the walls of the stomach that manifest with an intense and unbearable pain throughout the abdominal area.
• Indigestion: poorly digested food in the intestinal tract generates a large amount of gases that are highly likely to cause cramps in the abdominal area that generate a lot of pain.

What is electrotherapy and how can it help relieve menstrual pain?

Electrotherapy is a technique that consists of applying electricity to a person's body in order to generate a reaction in the body. It is a method that has been implemented for several decades, and today has hundreds of studies that confirm its effectiveness in relieving pain and strengthening muscles. Although there are more than 5 modalities, the most popular for everyday use are the following.

TENS

Transcutaneous nerve stimulation is nothing more than a form of electrotherapy that administers low-intensity, high-frequency currents to the body, acting directly on the nerves. In the case of menstrual pain, it acts on the enteric nervous system which is responsible for all intestinal processes, for it is there where the pain receptors of the entire abdominal region, including the belly, are located.

What TENS therapy does is that it alters the production of pain neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, so that this is reduced, while "numbing" the pain receptors of these substances, but requiring a greater amount of these to send a signal of intense pain to the brain. Both effects have the perfect synergy to alleviate your "suffering".

EMS

The second popular form of electrotherapy is electro muscle stimulation. This, unlike the previous one, uses higher intensity and lower frequency currents, which go directly to the abdominal muscles to generate a contraction similar to the one you generate naturally when you train your core in the gym.

This does not have any pain relief function, but focuses mainly on strengthening and toning the muscles, so it will not help you to relieve your belly aches, although it will help you to have a flat and toned abdomen.

Contraindications in the use of electrodes pads and electrotherapy