How to use a TENS units & EMS machines for neck pain relief? Placement of electrode pads

One of the most important sections of the back is undoubtedly the cervical spine, due to its proximity to the cerebellum, the brain, the large number of nerves that originate in it and a long etcetera of reasons. Its composition alone is a true anatomical marvel, but it is also one of the greatest torments of hundreds of millions of people in the world.

It is estimated that between 70% and 80% of humans will suffer at least once in their lives from neck pain, and those who don't will probably die before they feel it. Luckily, electrotherapy puts TENS and EMS therapies at your disposal, which can be a viable option to relieve and prevent any type of neck pain.

How to use a TENS machine to relieve neck pain?

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is undoubtedly one of the best ways to relieve neck and cervical pain. Thanks to it, you will not have to use drugs that can make you dependent on them, nor suffer perennial neck pain that ruin your lifestyle, since its currents do not alter the behavior of the nerves after their use, and offer a quick relief that is felt during the first seconds of starting a session.

Among the most important benefits for the neck we can highlight:

• Avoid the use of drugs: undoubtedly one of the best news is that with TENS you will not need to use drugs to relieve your pain, so you will not become a dependent person who every year spends thousands of dollars at the pharmacy buying painkillers that generate side effects in your body.
• Increases the pain threshold: since the cervical nerves will need more pain receptors to send a noxious impulse signal to the brain. This is a quality that will be maintained even after the sessions, so that when the pain reappears during the recovery process, it is no longer felt with the same intensity as at the beginning.
• Reduces the production of pain neurotransmitters: these chemicals needed to generate a nerve impulse in any of the cervical nerves will be greatly reduced. This will not only be during your TENS session but also after it, which will allow you to have an even greater tolerance to pain.
• It relaxes the cervical muscles: since it interferes with the reciprocal innervation that causes a muscle to tense when feeling pain, which increases the intensity of the pain. With the relief provided by TENS electrotherapy, these involuntary contractions are avoided and a total relaxation of the muscles that support the neck is achieved.

However, you should know that TENS electrotherapy will not cure the cause of your neck pain, it will simply relieve the pain in the area, but you should continue to perform the treatment indicated by your family doctor to recover from injuries such as:

• Cervicalgia.
• Nerve impingement.
• Neck sprain.
• Whiplash.
• Torticollis.

Best TENS machines for neck pain recovery

Now we present you the best TENS units to relieve neck pain, without using painkillers or other drugs, that you will find in the market.

The OSITO electric neck massager is one of the most precise electrostimulation units available, with an ergonomic design designed exclusively to adapt to the neck area and apply TENS electrical impulses to the most sensitive areas, relieving any type of ailment.

It has 9 modes of use and 50 intensity levels that allow access to the deep tissue of the neck, to offer complete relief of any type of ailment. It can be switched between TENS and effective heat therapy modes very easily thanks to its remote control, and its high capacity battery allows an autonomy of several hours with just a few minutes of charging.

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.

This wireless mini massager, brought to you by TENS MAKER, is one of the most compact and versatile ways to combat aches and pains caused by illness and injury with 15 levels of intensity to suit any type of pain. Its compact size and discretion make it totally portable, so you can make use of this amazing device at any time and place.

Upon purchase, you will receive not one, but two TENS devices, along with 4 gel pads, 2 sets of interchangeable batteries, 1 storage case and 1 instruction manual. This is one of the best cordless massage machines you will find, providing immediate relief for any type of ailment.

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.

PowerDot 2.0 wireless muscle stimulation electrodes are among the newest and most cutting-edge devices related to the field of physiotherapy, specifically designed to be portable, comfortable and provide an immediate sense of relief to its users. The package includes 2 pre-loaded pods, 2 sets of lead wires, 2 sets of electrode pads, 1 carrying case, 1 USB charging cable and 1 user guide.

To provide one of the fastest and most comprehensive improvements for pain of all types, the PowerDot 2.0 has over 400 different usage modes with different settings, aimed at muscle recovery, performance enhancement and pain relief, which can be adapted according to recent activity, fatigue level and the area to be treated. All these options can be managed through its mobile application, which is available for both Android and iPhone mobiles.

How to use an EMS muscle electro stimulator for neck pain?

EMS electrotherapy is not recommended to relieve cervical pain, but this does not mean that you cannot take advantage of it, since the contractions obtained with it are of great help to prevent various neck and cervical back injuries.

In addition, it is an excellent way to maintain the firmness of trapezius, sternocleidomastoid and other surrounding muscles for people who do not have time to attend a gym.

Among its most valuable benefits we can highlight:

• Prevents loss of elasticity: over the years the muscles lose elasticity, which causes them to become stiff, which increases the risk of injuries such as torticollis or contractures in trapezius. But this can be avoided with the use of EMS on a regular basis, as you will maintain the activity of the muscle fibers without having to invest long hours in the gym.
• Improves neck stability: by strengthening the muscles involved in this function such as the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid mainly, but also others around them.
• Prevents cervical injuries: problems such as torticollis, cervicalgia or nerve impingement that are products of excessive stress to which the joint is subjected will no longer appear as often, since you will have stronger muscles on which wear will have less impact.
• Improves circulation: since during EMS sessions vasodilation is achieved in the cervical area that will speed up blood flow in the area. This will significantly improve the health of the neck muscles so that they are much more resistant to injury.
• Reduces muscle stress: by using less intense currents, a gentle contraction of the cervical muscles is achieved that simulates a massage, so that these muscles relax and the accumulated stress in them is reduced.

Best EMS electrostimulators to strengthen neck muscles

Among the best EMS electro stimulators that you will find on the market, the ones we present in the following list of options stand out.

Compex presents the Muscle Massage Kit that includes the versatile Compex Edge 2.0 electrostimulator, which is presented as one of the most effective options to complement physical training, thanks to its 4 programs of use, 2 for strength training, 1 for recovery, and 1 TENS massage mode, which will allow you to increase the strength and endurance of your muscles, while reducing the ailments caused by fatigue.

The package includes 12 clip-type electrodes, 4 guide wires, built-in battery and a dust-proof bag so you can take your electrostimulation device with you wherever you go. Its training modes will allow you to increase your endurance and explosive strength, while the recovery modes will allow you to expel lactic acid and reduce aches and pains caused by post-workout exhaustion.

Easy@Home's compact TENS unit is one of the safest, most practical and versatile ways to treat muscle and nerve pain anywhere, thanks to its TENS and EMS electrical stimulation technology, designed for localised pain relief.

Its ergonomic design allows you to position the electrode almost anywhere on the body, so you can apply the electrical impulses to biceps, triceps, shoulders, elbows, knees, ankles and any other area requiring treatment. It has 6 modes of use and 20 intensity levels, which can be easily adjusted from the two-button control built into the pad.

Tenstim introduces its flagship electro stimulator, the Tenstim Wireless, an EMS muscle stimulation device with a variety of therapeutic modes and 20 intensity levels for greater depth of action. Its two channels can be controlled independently, so you can use them on different areas of the body according to your needs.

The box contains 1 remote control, 2 independent receivers, 1 AC adapter, 1 USB charging cable, 2 electrode cables, 2 reusable adhesive gel pads and 1 electrode board. In addition, it has a session timer that allows you to organise each therapy efficiently, which you can modify for sessions from 10 to 60 minutes.

The Mollan brand electro stimulator is one of the most versatile and complete despite its compact size. It has EMS muscle stimulation and TENS nerve stimulation capabilities, dual channel function and its 12x2" electrodes are incredibly useful to cover a wide area of skin and reach all desired muscle groups.

It has 24 modes of use and 20 levels of intensity designed to provide different methods of relief for all types of ailments, by means of electrical impulses that stimulate the production of endorphins. Its lithium battery allows up to 30 hours of continuous use and its compact design, 1.2x4.8 inches, allows you to take it anywhere you want at any time.

Massage Therapy Concepts has one of the best electrostimulators on the market, thanks in large part to the ease of use it provides to the user. Its large LCD screen allows you to view and adjust its 12 modes of use and 20 levels of intensity in just a few seconds, making it the best choice for pain relief thanks to its functions such as acupressure and reflexology.

It has an independent dual channel function which gives it compatibility with 4 electrodes per channel. These can be independently programmed to apply different massage modalities to separate body parts, resulting in a more comprehensive relief of body ailments caused by injury or illness.

Video: How to place the electrodes pads on the neck?

Electrodes for neck

• To relieve cervical pain: Cervical pain can be located basically in any area of the neck, but is especially focused on the vertebrae, so it is likely that the pain follows the line of the cervical spine.
• To relieve torticollis: Torticollis is usually generated by contraction of one of the two sternocleidomastoids or in one of the scalenes. Whatever the case, you should lie on your side, leaving the shortened section of the neck clear to place the electrodes.
• To relieve whiplash: Whiplash usually affects both sides of the neck, so what you should do in this case is to lie on your stomach and position the electrodes.

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Most common types of neck injuries

Strangely, the neck is the least protected part of the back despite being undoubtedly the most important. It has the fewest muscles even though it must support the weight of the entire head, it has some of the most fragile bones, and on top of that it is always exposed.

This makes it easy to suffer from injuries such as the following:

• Whiplash: Whiplash occurs when the neck muscles are forced to move suddenly forward or backward, such as from sudden braking to avoid a car accident, being hit from behind in a car, or from a violent tackle while playing a contact sport. According to Harvard Health Publishing, more than one million Americans suffer this injury each year, and half of them are left with some type of recurring pain afterward.
• Neck sprain: a very dangerous injury that occurs when the ligaments of the neck are forced to overextend, to the point of generating partial or total tears in them. A specialist should be consulted to rule out damage to the cervical vertebrae.
• Neck fracture: it is generated when one of the bones of the neck fractures due to a sudden impact. It is one of the most dangerous injuries because if it affects one of the 8 cervical nerves or its vertebrae, it may cause paralysis of a part of the body and the patient may even be paralyzed.
• Nerve impingement: occurs when one of the 8 cervical nerves is involuntarily shortened or compressed, which generates a sharp and persistent pain that can even limit the mobility of the neck.
• Torticollis: consists of the temporary contraction of one of the neck muscles, which causes the head to tilt to one side and severe pain when trying to move this joint.

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

One of the best options to relieve neck pain caused by the aforementioned injuries is transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation or TENS, which uses currents ranging from medium to low intensities to alter the pain transmission process that begins with the segregation of neurotransmitters and their reception by the C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7 and C8 nerves that are distributed throughout the cervical area.

Then there is the electrical muscle stimulation or EMS, which uses medium and high intensity currents to achieve the contraction of the sternocleidomastoid muscles, the splenius of the head or the levator scapulae, among others that make up the cervical area. The aim is to strengthen these tissues in the same way as when training them in the gym.

For pain relief in the cervical area, the best choice is TENS unit, since it offers a method free of drugs and analgesic drugs to relieve pain by altering the nerve functions that generate it in the brain. On the other hand, EMS is contraindicated for the treatment of neck pain since the contraction it generates in the neck muscles can be harmful.

However, EMS electrostimulation can be a valid option to train the cervical area and strengthen it, in order to avoid all types of future injuries. For this reason, specialists recommend its use on a regular basis to achieve this particular objective.

Contraindications in the use of electrodes and electrotherapy