Can you use TENS for Pain Relief and to Relieve Sore & Aching Muscles?

Whether it's from an intense workout, muscle inactivity, or everyday strain, TENS units like DR-HO'S Pain Therapy System can help reduce muscle soreness after workouts, temporarily relieve sore and aching muscles, and improve and facilitate muscle performance. To use a TENS unit for muscle recovery, place the gel pads on the sore muscle, connect them to the device, start at a low intensity and increase it to a comfortable level, choose the right setting, and run the session for about 10 to 20 minutes for drug-free pain relief.

DR-HO'S Pain Therapy System  doesn't just use TENS to target pain and discomfort; this device is also powered by EMS, NMES and AMP technologies to provide temporary relief for a wide variety of pain. Ahead, you'll see how TENS, EMS, NMES, and AMP work, how to use a TENS unit safely for sore muscles, which modes in the Pain Therapy System fit different needs, and how to work TENS therapy into a pain management routine when muscle pain is getting in the way of daily activity, recovery, or fitness goals.

What is TENS?

TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, and TENS pain therapy works by reducing pain signals from reaching the brain; more specifically, a tens device uses low voltage electrical impulses, or electrical signals, to stimulate nerves and deliver electrical impulses that interrupt pain signals. It can also trigger the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers. As a result, TENS is a great option for those looking to avoid pain naturally without the use of prescription medications or invasive procedures.

TENS therapy helps temporarily relieve pain through the use of constantly-changing electrical currents. This is how tens therapy works: after applying the self-adhesive body pads, a TENS unit will send an electrical current through the nervous system, reducing its ability to transmit pain signals to the brain. In simple terms, tens works for sore and aching muscles due to strain from exercise, normal household work activities, and more. Used for pain management since the 1970s, it is often chosen as a natural alternative for managing chronic pain as well as acute and chronic pain.

What about EMS Pain Therapy?

DR-HO'S Pain Therapy System combines both TENS and EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) to target more types of pain, including sore and aching muscle pain.

EMS targets the muscles directly, causing muscle contractions that can enhance circulation and improve circulation in healthy muscles. By placing the pads over the muscle belly, you can target specific muscles more precisely. These contractions are beneficial because they can help increase blood flow in healthy muscles. The circulatory system is responsible for transporting oxygen and nutrients throughout the body to various tissues, including muscle tissues. Stimulating healthy muscles using EMS can also help improve and facilitate muscle performance. Better blood flow may also help promote healing and reduce inflammation in surrounding tissues. In contrast, ems devices are mainly used for muscle strengthening and supporting muscle strength, while TENS is used primarily to reduce pain in the affected area.

What is NMES Technology?

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES): Therapeutic technology that targets specific nerve pathways to help re-educate muscles and restore proper nerve-muscle communication, particularly valuable in rehabilitation settings. 

NMES specifically targets the communication pathways between nerves and muscles, making it 

particularly valuable when injury, surgery, or neurological conditions have disrupted the body's normal neuromuscular function.

What does AMP Technology do? 

While many TENS units on the market block pain at first, the pain will persist with repeated use. Why? It's because these TENS devices offer a single, predictable mode of electrical stimulation. Eventually, the body gets used to this stimulation, bypasses it and continues to deliver pain signals to the brain. That changes with DR-HO'S proprietary AMP (Auto Modulating Pulse) technology.

DR-HO'S TENS devices including DR-HO'S Pain Therapy System  provide over 300 different stimulations that constantly vary in wavelength, frequency and rest periods. These stimulations are programmed to automatically change, so you get a soothing variety of pulses that keep the stimulation unpredictable and effective over time!

Portable devices also vary in size, portability, and power, and some are designed for athletes or offer app-connected customizable programs.

How to Use a TENS Unit for Sore & Aching Muscles

Now that you know how a TENS unit affects muscles, it's important to know how to use these devices for pain relief in the painful area, not direct tissue healing, though they may help reduce soreness as part of a broader recovery plan:

Place the TENS Pads on the Sore Muscles

First, identify the affected area where you want to place your gel pads. Before use, check the pads for damage, and apply them on clean, dry skin near the discomfort, making sure the area is free of oils or lotions. Place the gel pads on or around the area where you experience pain, and make sure the pads are connected to the machine. Good electrode placement can also follow the relevant nerve pathways or specific muscles as needed, with pads at least one inch apart.

Never place the pads:

• On the head

• Over the throat/ front of neck

• Around the eyes

• Over the chest or near the heart

• Directly on the spine

• Over a pacemaker

• On broken or irritated skin

• On areas with reduced sensation

• And lastly, around or over wounds or tumors

Select Your Desired Intensity

Depending on the device you have chosen there may be a variety of intensity levels. Start on a low intensity and gradually increase intensity to your comfort level. You may feel a mild massaging action or slight muscle twitching, and you can increase the strength only as comfortable if you want more pain relief.

Choose Your Mode or Setting

Not every TENS machine comes with specific modes. If your machine does, choose one you would like to try. Some settings use low frequency pulses, which may feel different. Start with a gentle mode and adjust the settings based on comfort and desired intensity before working your way up to a more vigorous setting.

Set a Timer 

A typical tens therapy session lasts about 15 to 30 minutes, though some users may limit sessions to 20 to 40 minutes for safety. Repeat sessions only as directed, and do not use the unit while sleeping, bathing, or driving.

If you have a medical condition, consult a healthcare professional before use, and avoid using a TENS unit if pregnant unless advised by one.

Cleaning pads after use can help prevent irritated skin.

DR-HO'S Pain Therapy System Modes

DR-HO'S Pain Therapy System  has a variety of modes that create different sensations for the muscles. If you are unsure how to use a TENS machine, start with understanding the unit's modes:

Mode A: Feels like thumb kneading, palm kneading, and finger tapping.

Mode B: Feels like pounding, chopping, cupping and oscillating squeezing.

Mode C: Feels like gentle fingers lightly rubbing the muscles, then lightly squeezing the muscles, followed by a stronger squeeze. Use this mode before bed for a relaxing transition into a more intense mode.

Add a new form of relief to your daily routine!

Whether it be as simple as your daily errands or as meaningful as your goals and ambitions, don't muscle pain get in the way. Incorporate a pain therapy device such as DR-HO'S Pain Therapy System  in your pain management routine and find temporary, effective pain relief you can count on. It can also be a natural alternative to pain medication and works best alongside proper hydration and physical activity. 

Try it risk-free with a 100-day money-back guarantee!

Learn more about TENS on the DR-HO'S Blog!

TENS Machines: This is Everything You Need to Know
How to Choose a TENS Machine
Do TENS Units Really Work?
How Do TENS Machines Work?
TENS Machine Side Effects: Is TENS Therapy Safe?
How Long is it Safe to Use TENS For
Can TENS Machines Help With Muscle Recovery Post Workout?