WHAT ARE TENS/EMS UNITS?

Perhaps one of the most innovative methods of helping to relieve nerve, joint, and muscular pain is through the use of TENS and EMS units.  They are a popular method of pain relief, offering safe, effective, and drug-free relief from a variety of musculoskeletal pain. They work by delivering small electrical impulses through electrodes that have adhesive pads to attach them to a person’s skin.These electrical impulses flood the nervous system, reducing its ability to transmit pain signals to the spinal cord and brain.
The same electrical impulses also stimulate the body to produce natural pain relievers called endorphins.  


TENS units may help treat the following symptoms:

• period pain
• labor pain
• postoperative pain
• joint pain
• neck and back pain

They may also alleviate pain that results from the following conditions:

• endometriosis
• arthritis
• sports injuries
• multiple sclerosis
• fibromyalgia
• painful diabetic neuropathy
• spinal cord injury

BenefitsTENS is a noninvasive method for relieving pain. People who experience pain relief from TENS may be able to reduce their intake of pain medications, some of which can be addictive or cause adverse side effects.
TENS units are also convenient because they are small, portable, and relatively discrete. People can carry a TENS unit in their pocket or clip it onto a belt to ensure that they have immediate access to pain relief throughout the day.

Try one this year with your benefits coverage and see if one can help!