TENS & EMS help stimulate muscles to temporarily increase local circulation, provide pain relief, and help with muscle recovery.

For something that's so important to our health, exercise can be a real pain; especially when you experience post-workout muscle soreness.

This discomfort is actually a very natural side effect of working out, no matter where you're at on your fitness journey. In fact, post-workout muscle soreness is a sign that your body is working to get stronger. Regardless, that doesn't make the soreness any less uncomfortable.

Luckily, there are ways to relieve this discomfort, and finding relief is important. Faster muscle recovery can make it a lot easier to stay motivated and keep at the physical activities you love! Read on to learn about how TENS machines can help temporarily relieve sore and achy muscles and help with muscle recovery. TENS stands for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and a tens device is a small battery-operated, portable device that delivers low voltage electrical impulses. It offers drug free pain relief as a natural alternative, using electrical stimulation for pain management since the 1970s. This is how tens works: it sends electrical impulses as electrical signals through the skin to interrupt pain signals to the brain for pain relief. 

Why do muscles hurt after a workout?

This very common soreness in the muscles gradually sets-in between 24 and 48 hours after a workout session. Because of this, it's known as Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (or DOMS). It's caused by resistance training, such as lifting weights and pushups, but also by activities like cycle training or running.

DOMS occurs due to the uncommon strain we put on our muscles when we exercise. This can cause very small, microscopic tears in the muscle fibres. These tears may result in increased inflammation in the affected muscles. In some cases, this tearing can lead to swelling. The combined effect of these bodily functions causes the soreness we feel, and this soreness subsides with muscle recovery. While it doesn't repair the tissue itself, TENS treatment may help modulate pain by helping stimulate nerves involved in pain control, including large-diameter A-β (A-beta) afferents. It may also support relief by encouraging the body's natural pain response, including higher levels of β-endorphins.

It's important to understand that this soreness is very common and temporary. It's also a sign that your muscles are working to get stronger. As the muscle repairs and rebuilds itself, it may be able to handle heavier loads and more resistance. Current research is mixed; some studies report better perceived recovery in most cases, but evidence remains inconsistent, and authors concluded benefits are mainly related to comfort rather than tissue healing.

How A TENS Machine Can Help With Post-Workout Muscle Recovery

Just because muscle soreness is normal does not make it any less uncomfortable, and a tens machine for muscle recovery is mainly designed for temporary pain relief to reduce soreness rather than rebuild muscle directly. Using a TENS machine like DR-HO'S Pain Therapy System 4-Pad after a workout can help make recovering movement or light rehabilitation work feel more manageable. The Pain Therapy System 4-Pad combines the benefits of TENS therapy and Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS).

What's The Difference Between TENS and EMS?

While TENS uses a gentle electrical current to temporarily relieve pain, with controls for stimulation intensity and session duration on many tens units, EMS contracts and expands the muscles as a separate method to temporarily increase local circulation and improve muscle performance.

Many units are portable and vary in size, power, and features.

Some TENS devices have pre-programmed recovery modes, while others add app-connected controls or let you build custom stimulation programs.

The muscle stimulation encourages blood flow and fresh oxygen to flow to the sore muscles after a workout. Additionally, it's believed that massaging the muscles after a workout can reduce the production of proteins called cytokines, which play an important role in causing inflammation. The less inflammation there is in the muscles, the more this may help reduce inflammation, the less painful they will become and the faster you'll find muscle recovery.

Use a TENS Machine before physical activity, too.

DR-HO'S Pain Therapy System 4-Pad doesn't only help with temporary relief of muscle soreness after a workout; it can also be used before you start exercising. The EMS features help stimulate the muscles before a workout. Using the device for as little as ten minutes before exercising may help temporarily increase circulation by stimulating the nerves and muscles.

What also makes the DR-HO'S Pain Therapy System 4-Pad different is that it features NMES (Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation), which helps stimulate the muscles and may help maintain or increase range of motion and circulation. It also uses AMP (Auto Modulated Pulse) technology, Dr. Michael Ho's proprietary technology that provides more than 300 different stimulation patterns that vary in wavelength, frequency, and rest periods. This technology is also used in the EMS Massager and other DR-HO’S products.

Depending on the product directions, TENS therapy may be used several times a day for pain management or recovery. Sessions may last up to 60 minutes, and users should start at a low intensity and gradually increase to a comfortable level.

It's important to remember that TENS or EMS therapy should not replace stretching. You should always stretch and warm up your body before a workout to help avoid strain and injury!

Other ways to reduce post-workout pain and promote faster muscle recovery

There are other things you can do in addition to using a TENS machine to help with post-workout muscle recovery as DOMS sets in. Check out our list! TENS works best as a complement to good recovery habits like sleep, hydration, and nutrition. Place the electrodes on clean, dry skin near the affected area to target discomfort more effectively. If you use it regularly, follow basic safety guidance to protect your skin and get the most from each session.

Don't let soreness keep you from reaching your fitness goals.

Post-workout pain can be tough, especially when you're just starting out. It's important to not get discouraged about muscle soreness and muscle recovery; it's a key part of the process towards being more physically active.

Take it slow and build your routine gradually for the best results. And when the soreness hits, try a TENS machine and other methods mentioned above. TENS is generally safe for most users when used as directed, but regular use requires close attention to safety guidelines and extra caution around sensitive areas such as the neck. Finally, if the pain you are experiencing feels worse than normal, if you fear you've injured yourself, or if you have medical concerns before use, it's important to consult your doctor, a healthcare provider, or another healthcare professional right away. Now go onwards with your newfound knowledge towards a happier, healthier lifestyle!

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?
How to Use TENS to Relieve Sore and Aching Muscles

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes, and should not be treated as medical advice. While our advanced TENS machine can benefit various pain conditions through its sophisticated combination of TENS, EMS, and NMES guided by our proprietary AMP Technology, proper diagnosis ensures optimal pad placement and treatment protocols. Always consult a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis before beginning any treatment program.