#88: How to Use a TENS Unit: A Placement Guide

#88: How to Use a TENS Unit: A Placement Guide

Having a TENS Unit is the ultimate game-changer. TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) is a non-invasive way of reducing and managing pain.

 

TENS therapy works by sending electrical impulses to your skin and nerve strands. At a low frequency, the pulses from the TENS device stimulate the creation and release of endorphins, thus reducing your pain for a period of time. At a high frequency, the pulses block the pain signal from reaching your brain, preventing you from feeling any discomfort.

 

With that said, TENS is a highly effective method of relieving pain – but only if you know the appropriate TENS unit placement.

 

Here, we’ll look into how you can properly position your wireless TENS unit and TENS pads, and how PowerDot can help you get the best experience possible.

 

The Proper TENS Placement

 

Most of the time, you already know the pain points in your body – from your neck and shoulder, to your lower back and knees. However, you can also use your fingers to gently press on your muscles to find the center of the pain spots.

 

Once you’ve zeroed in on the pain area, place the TENS unit pads close together about a few inches apart. One pad isn’t enough to bring in optimal results, so it’s best to use two to four pads per treatment. With PowerDot, you get one or two pods (depending on the model) along with lead cables.

 

Now, let’s further explore the TENS electrode placement for each specific body part.

 

If you’re experiencing neck pain, you might be carrying a lot of tension on your upper neck and back (and possibly shoulders — remember, it’s all connected!), making the muscles tight and sore. To relieve this, simply place the TENS pads on your traps, the nape, or near the upper spine. Sometimes, neck pain can be caused by stiff back muscles, so you can also apply your pads on the upper back.     

 

For knee pain, place your TENS unit pads just a little below the kneecap and the pod just above it. If it’s the quads you’re treating, apply the pads slightly above the knee and the pod on your upper thigh. Be careful not to place these directly on your knees (or any bones or joints) as it will be difficult for the pads to stay in place if you move that joint. 


That’s also why, for optimal results, it’s best to stay seated during the treatment.       

To relieve chronic pain in the back, place your TENS pads on your lower back with the pod on your midline spine. With the newer PowerDot 2.0 Butterfly Pad, you can connect one pod and lead cable to the pad, and position this on your lower back above the hips.

     

For arm pain, attach the pod on your shoulders or shoulder blades and the TENS unit pads on the pain areas in upper arms.

 

To help you ease into using TENS therapy, PowerDot also provides a guide for where you should put your TENS unit pads. These guidelines are intended to help you prepare for your session and offer the best possible results.

 

And again, we suggest that you stay seated or lying down when using your wireless TENS unit. Your TENS massager will advise you what to do depending on the program you’ve selected. Essentially, the goal is to relax while you enjoy your TENS therapy.

 

How TENS Therapy Works

 

Your pain journey is unique to you, and that’s why it’s essential that your pain relief program is customized according to your needs. And with PowerDot’s Smart TENS, you can do just that.

 

Once you’ve settled your problem area and TENS electrode placement, you can confirm the type of pain – whether chronic, acute, muscle pain, sports injury-related, and the like. Then, set your maximum pain tolerance score. PowerDot’s algorithms will take all of this information to tailor a specialized program for your specific needs.

 

One important point to note is that your TENS therapy does not and should not hurt, even though the body area it’s working on does. Your muscles may be vibrating from the pulses, but it shouldn’t give you unbearable sensations. Throughout the session, you are in full control of the pulsing intensity, so you can increase or decrease it as you see fit.

 

What’s more, PowerDot is not just a portable and wireless TENS unit. It’s also app-based, so you can easily track your progress and monitor your pain score over time. This will help you understand how your body reacts to your daily activities and how these affect your levels of pain. This allows you to have an even more personalized experience with your device.

 

Using a wireless TENS unit is easy and effectively relieves your pain if used properly. Essentially, you apply the TENS pads to your pain area, adjust the TENS electrode placement, manage the pulse intensity, and allow it to work its magic on you.

 

Now that you know the proper TENS unit placement and how TENS therapy works, you’re well on your way to recovering faster, reducing muscle pains, and feeling your best. Not only that, but PowerDot also helps you prevent injuries, increase muscle strength and endurance, improve blood circulation, and get better training results.


Whether you’re hitting the gym hard every day or feel pain in your body from excessive sitting, PowerDot can help. Get yours today and see why people all across the globe rely on it to live a healthier, happier life. 

 

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