Back pain relief has just gotten easier! Physical therapists have long used TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) to relieve pain and speed recovery from injuries and surgery. Now this fantastic technology is available for home use at a reasonable price. Here is a look at two such units:
The Hollywog WiTouch Wireless TENS
This unit offers battery-operated, remote controlled relief from back pain. It features a coverage surface that is 2.5 times the area of the average portable pain-relief device. It’s comfortable, discreet and light to wear, with belts, wires or straps. It boasts long battery life, with over 150 half-hour uses per battery change.
Pros
The good points of this device include not being tied to an electrical outlet and great use vs. battery life. Three hundred half-hour uses per battery change is a great deal. If 30 minutes is too short to suit you, just restart the unit! The level of stimulation is appropriate for a unit that can be worn to work. The gel pads grip well to hold the unit in place. The unit itself is thin enough to be unobtrusive under clothing, for a discreet fit. The unit comes with 2 AAA batteries and a lithium battery for the remote control.
Cons
The adhesive quality of the pads leaves something to be desired if you move around a lot while you are wearing the unit. There’s no way to reach the controls on the unit itself, making it necessary to carry a remote control. It’s also a bit pricy, at around $89.00.
Overall, the Hollywog WiTouch Wireless TENS pulse massage does a good job of relieving back pain. Its coverage size, portability and long battery life make it a sure winner for those who need to be able to carry their pain relief with them.
The Homedics Rapid Relief Electronic Pain Relief Pad
This is another portable unit, so there are no tangled cords. The unit can be worn discreetly. According to the manufacturer, its 15 different levels of stimulation provide the greatest relief you can get without a prescription. It comes with a lithium battery and a case for storage and easy carrying.
Pros
This unit has been a strong performer in clinical trials. It is odor-free, drug-free, and contains no latex, so it’s safe for those with a latex allergy. There is no separate remote control. Rather, there is an easy to use controller on the outside of the pad itself, the controls of which can be felt through your clothing for easy-press setting. The pulse patterns vary, so you can customize the stimulation. A safety feature will stop the unit from running if it is not in contact with skin. The Homedics Rapid Relief pad can also be used for knees, arms or other reasonably large areas.
Cons
The unit will not stick well if you sweat. Replacing the sticky pads with Kenesio Tex Gold Tape (which is also frequently used in therapy). The battery only lasts for about 50 uses, but considering the low price of the unit, it’s worth replacing, as are the pads.
The Homedics Rapid Relief Electronic Pain Relief Pad is a great performer, providing long-lasting relief in as little as 20 minutes. It’s flexible, doesn’t require a battery pack, and wears well under clothing. The price is right, at around $16.00.
The Santamedical TENS Electronic Pulse Massager
This is a small hand-held unit featuring four electrodes. It has six different settings for intensity and speed of stimulation, as well as an automatic mode. It is FDA approved and is backed by a 100% guarantee. The unit comes with four attachment pads and batteries (4 AAA). The price isn’t too steep, at around $30.
Pros
The multiple settings are a plus. It can also be used on more than one area or more than one person at once. It is portable and easy to use, and the pads stick well, even without gel.
Cons
The only drawback to the Santamedical unit is that it could be a more powerful, to work better for deep tissue massage.
The truMedic TENS Unit Electronic Pulse Massager
This is another four-electrode handheld unit. It features 10 power levels, with 5 auto-stimulation settings. It is FDA approved. It also runs on 4 batteries. It is priced around $30.
Pros
This unit has more power levels and settings than others, giving it greater flexibility. It also comes with extras: a spare set of pads, 2 sets of batteries, and a code to download or view a series of videos online.
Cons
You may be disappointed to find that this unit only runs in 15-minute cycles. Also, there are only automatic presets – you can’t choose your own settings. There is no way to set the stimulation as continuous, the unit is a bit large for pockets (about the size of an average television remote). Also, this unit could stand to be a bit more powerful.
The PurePulse Electronic Pulse Massager
This features three auto settings and six stimulation levels. A convenient LCD readout gives you all pertinent information at a glance. This unit is FDA approved and comes with a 1-year warranty. This unit comes with 4 AAA batteries and one set of pads for four electrodes. This one is also about $30 in price.
Pros
You can also use two different power and stimulation levels at the same time.
Cons
Three problems with this unit are that: 1. Once a cycle completes, you have to turn the channel you’re using off completely to clear the setting before you can choose another, and 2. There is a repeat button, but it repeats the type of auto setting you just used. It does not repeat the 15-minute cycle, and 3. The unit only runs for 15 minutes at a time.
Conclusion
While all of these units are available for over the counter purchase and work great for relieving aches and pains our favorite handheld unit has to be the truMedic unit which seems to be best for flexibility, but if you don’t absolutely need 10 different settings, the Santamedic unit offers the overall best value. If you’re looking for a wireless TENS Unit then I would definitely recommend the Hollywog Witouch Back Massager despite the higher price this unit packs much more pain relief then its competitor and can be found on Amazon for just $54!
