Best TENS Unit for Back Pain (Complete Guide 2018)

Best Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation Units review

• Top 6 Tens Units for Back Pain
• TruMedic TENS Unit Electronic Pulse Massager
• Tens Handheld Electronic Pulse Massager Unit
• PurePulse Pro Advanced TENS Unit Muscle Stimulator
• HealthmateForever Electrotherapy Electronic Pulse Massager
• Zewa Spabuddy Sport Tens Pain Therapy
• Omron electroTHERAPY Pain Relief Device PM3030
• Best Tens Units for Back Pain Comparison Chart
• What Is a Tens Unit?
• How to Choose a Tens Unit for Back Pain
• How to Use a Tens Unit for Lower Back Pain
• Tens Unit Side Effects
• Types of Tens Units
• Top Brands of TENS Unit
• Conclusion

At some point or other, most people experience back pain of some kind. Whether it’s simply tight muscles after a long gym workout or chronic back pain caused by an injury, people usually search for a remedy for these back problems. A TENS unit is the perfect companion for those experiencing back problems.

TENS units are small and portable units that can be easily transported for use anywhere. This is highly convenient for users who have a busy modern lifestyle. These units are usually pre-programmed with massaging programs, which are administered using electrotherapy with the use of pads.

As TENS units are so small, they are usually powered with special, made for purpose battery packs or simple AAA batteries.

There are many different TENS units to choose from, so if you’re feeling daunted by the choice, let these 6 best Tens Unit for Back Pain reviews help you to make your decision. If you’re wondering what is the best tens unit for you, then this guide will help you find the answer. The guide towards the end of this article will help you to discover how to use a TENS unit for lower back pain.

Top 6 Tens Units for Back Pain

TruMedic TENS Unit Electronic Pulse Massager

The truMedic TENS Unit is a great tens unit that you can purchase over the counter. It is highly affordable and is highly effective. It can be used to reduce stress, muscular pain, stiffness and even chronic back pain.

This unit stimulates nerves and in turn relaxes the body and reduces the pain felt in muscles. It uses powerful TENS electrotherapy to provide effective electronic pain relief.

You’ll be pleased to know that this lightweight TENS unit is small and highly portable. You can take it anywhere with you, so if you experience back pain after playing sports or after a session at the gym, you can take it with you and use it straight after your activity for instant relief. You could even use it in the office to relax your back after an early morning workout.

The truMedic TENS Unit is simple to use. Its controls are simply labeled for self-explanatory operation and you can choose from 5 automatic programs.

Tens Handheld Electronic Pulse Massager Unit

This highly portable TENS unit is maybe the best TENS unit for lower back pain. It has 6 automatic modes with different speed levels and intensities to allow you to completely customize your experience. This Handheld Electronic Pulse Massager TENS machine includes attachment pads and is powered with the use of 4 AAA batteries. It is probably the best TENS unit for stress, chronic back pain and muscle tightness as it is easy to use even though it is advanced.

With the use of the LCD display, you can see at a glance the style of massage that the machine is administering as well as the intensity level and remaining time.

This unit is lightweight at only 5.3 ounces and is no larger than a standard remote control. You can carry it discreetly in a pocket or handbag. The unit is powerful enough to provide you with the massage you need whilst being ultra portable so you can take it with you anywhere.

PurePulse Pro Advanced TENS Unit Muscle Stimulator

This Muscle Stimulator and TENS unit can provide better pain relief than you could expect to experience from any prescription medication. This unit is recommended by physiotherapists and chiropractors and is a great choice.

There are a staggering 25 levels of intensity to choose from with this unit to offer a pain management solution for everyone. The different intensity levels also allow the tens unit to be used on other areas of the body, including sensitive areas that require much lower levels of intensity.

An easy to use LED display allows you to choose your desired program from the 8 pre-programmed routines that are available with this unit. A timer allows you to choose the length of the program from 5 minutes to an hour.

This muscle stimulator comes with a video series to help you get the most out of your unit. You can learn how to effectively use the unit to relieve pain throughout the body.

HealthmateForever Electrotherapy Electronic Pulse Massager

With 8 self-adhesive gel pads, this TENS unit can provide more application points than many other units offer. More pads mean that you can target more muscles with one session with this TENS unit making it more effective than most on the market.

To help you to get the most out of this TENS unit, it comes with an operating manual and an acupuncture placement chart. The acupuncture chart helps you to pinpoint the problem areas where you should place the electrode pads.

The LCD display allows you to see which program is selected, the intensity, duration of the program and the remaining battery power. You can easily operate the unit with the use of the keypad. This TENS unit is not much larger than a cell phone making it very portable.

The unit lasts for longer than expected considering that it is powered by 3 AAA batteries and for peace of mind, the unit comes with a lifetime warranty card.

Zewa Spabuddy Sport Tens Pain Therapy

The Zewa Spabuddy Sport Tens unit is a compact and simple pain relief system that is not only affordable but compares well with more expensive units. Its simplicity makes it so easy to use that even those who struggle with technology won’t have a problem accessing the useful features on this unit.

8 separate massage programs help you to treat a variety of different aches, pains and muscle tightness throughout the body. The program can easily be selected along with the duration of the session too. The longest time you can set any program to run with this unit is 95 minutes.

As you need to use two pads with each channel on this machine, you can either use 2 or 4 electrode pads at a time. It is a dual channel and as such can only support a maximum of 4 pads at a time. You should concentrate on the acupuncture points when choosing the location on your skin for the pads.

Omron electroTHERAPY Pain Relief Device PM3030

The Omron electroTHERAPY TENS unit is one of the most affordable choices on the market. This simple and basic unit lacks the many options offered by more expensive devices, but it still manages to provide an effective solution for pain relief.

3 simple programs allow you to choose between arm, lower back and leg/foot areas. Each of these programs has 5 levels of intensity so you can customize the session. The program is administered using the electrode pads provided with the unit. These pads have a long lifespan and can last for up to 150 uses. There is a holder for the pads so that you can keep them together and protect them from damage.

This TENS unit is small and lightweight. You can transport it in a pocket with ease so you can use it discreetly in any location. It is fully approved for home use and utilizes the same TENS technology that has been proven to be effective for the past 30 years.

Best Tens Units for Back Pain Comparison Chart

What Is a Tens Unit?

If you’re wondering “What is a TENS unit?” TENS is an acronym that means transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Its job is to provide pain relief with the use of electrical pulses with the aid of electrodes that are attached directly to the skin. Electrode wires run between the TENS unit and pads that are attached to the skin. A conductive gel is applied to the pads before they are taped to the skin in order to ensure a good connection with the skin to avoid skin irritation.

The TENS unit is battery powered and is designed to be lightweight and portable. It can be easily hooked onto a belt or carried in a pocket. This allows the TENS unit to be used literally anywhere. If you have constant back pain, you could use a TENS machine multiple times throughout the day, whether at work, at the gym, in the car or at home without needing to worry about it being cumbersome or getting in the way.

These devices are also highly affordable and range in price according to the features that they offer.

How to Choose a Tens Unit for Back Pain

Purchasing an expensive TENS unit that has a lot of features that you may never use is a waste of money, especially when there is probably a much simpler option out there that costs much less. It is important to know how to choose the best TENS unit for back pain so that you can find the one that will be of most benefit to you. These TENS unit reviews should help you to make a decision, but follow these tips to choose the best TENS unit for back pain.

• An analog TENS unit requires manual operation. To change the settings of the machines, it is necessary to use dials and controls that need to be tweaked using the fingers. They are reliable, easy to use, even for those who are not good with technology and are cheap to purchase.
• Digital LCD TENS units feature a digital display and have a similar operation to a modern cell phone. They often feature long warranties and multiple pre-set TENS programs. Their fully adjustable and customizable nature means that they can offer all the options you need when it comes to a TENS unit. They are often more expensive but if you need to vary your TENS massage on a regular basis this may be a great choice for you.
• A muscle stimulator is a low cost alternative to a complete TENS machine. They use analog or LCD controls and are easy to use. The muscle stimulator is a cheap alternative to a TENS unit but only provides temporary and low-level pain relief.
• A combo TENS unit is one that provides both TENS programs and muscle stimulation. These units usually feature a large number of programs and it is usually necessary to read through the instruction manual. Whilst these machines are a lot more complicated to use, they offer everything you could possibly need for all levels of pain relief.

How to Use a Tens Unit for Lower Back Pain

A TENS unit is very simple to use. It may take a little practice to remember all the steps when you’re trying to remember how to use a tens unit for back pain, but once you’ve mastered it, you’ll find this to be a simple and convenient method of pain management.

• Firstly, you should make sure that the TENS unit has enough battery power to last for the session. You should also ensure that the TENS unit is switched off before you begin.
• It is important to clean the skin in the area where you will be placing the electrodes. Rubbing alcohol is the best thing to do this with, as it will remove any residual grease on the skin.
• The electrode pads need to make close contact with your skin so you need to ensure that you remember to place a thin coat of conductive gel on the bottom of each electrode.
• Place each electrode onto your skin and secure in place with some medical tape. This may take a little practice, as the base of the back is sometimes difficult to reach.
• Plug the electrode wires into the electrode pads and then into the TENS unit.
• Slowly turn the TENS unit on until you feel a slight tingling sensation from the electrode pads.
• You can now place the TENS unit into a pocket or onto a belt.

Tens Unit Side Effects

The TENS unit is made to override the effect of the pain receptors in the body but is only effective when used properly. Through overuse or misuse, some TENS unit side effects can occur. Whilst these side effects are adverse, they are usually mild and don’t last for very long.

TENS units work by sending electrical pulses directly to the muscles. Whilst this should work to relieve pain, soreness, stiffness and aid relaxation, with overuse you may experience an intensity of these problems. Muscles that are overexposed to electrical pulses end up feeling sore and tender. If you experience this, it is important that you stop using the TENS unit for a while. You may also experience muscle pain and twitching if you use the TENS unit on an intensity setting that is too high. If you experience twitching, lower the intensity until you don’t feel the twitching anymore.

Whilst TENS units are made to be used over and over again, it is important that you keep removing and replacing the pads that make direct contact with your skin. Skin irritation can be a problem for the areas where the pads adhere to the skin. To avoid skin irritation, make sure that your skin is thoroughly cleaned before you apply the pads. You should also frequently move the pads.

Types of Tens Units

There are many different options when it comes to TENS units. Some are small enough to resemble remote controls and these are the easiest and most discreet to carry around in a pocket.

Different TENS units have different methods of control. Analog TENS units use manual controls and are simple to use but they lack the variety of options offered by other units. Digital TENS units have an extensive range of pre-programmed TENS routines and are a little more expensive than analog units.

More expensive TENS units can provide better levels of pain relief and longer term results whilst the cheaper options need to be used more frequently to achieve the desired effects. Combination units are available that also offer muscle stimulation.

Top Brands of TENS Unit

When it comes to choosing a TENS unit, you’ll quickly notice that many manufacturers are available. These top brands all offer a different selling point when it comes to marketing their TENS units.

• Omron. This brand has been producing TENS units for over 20 years and has a great range of units that are designed to reduce pain with plenty of power whilst producing the most compact units possible.
• Pure Enrichment. One of the main missions of Pure Enrichment is to provide their customers with healthy and life-balancing lifestyle devices that can be used at home. Their TENS units are easy to use whilst offering full FDA approval for home use.
• HealthmateForever. Amongst the wide range of home health and beauty devices manufactured by HealthmateForever is a great collection of TENS units. These devices are highly affordable whilst offering all the features and functions that you would expect from a good TENS unit.
• TruMedic. This is a manufacturer that has long been trusted by the medical profession. Their highly reliable and luxurious TENS units ensure that you can reduce and even eliminate the most severe of lower back pains.
• Zewa. For over 25 years, Zewa has been producing high quality TENS units. The affordability and portability of the Zewa TENS machines are what makes them so popular amongst customers.

Conclusion

TENS units have been used for decades for the relief of back pain, muscular stiffness, and other such problems. Even today, they are widely available, although there are many choices now when it comes to both operation and functionality. These top 6 TENS unit reviews give you some ideas of what to look for and what is available to you.

For complete portability, as you can see from these best TENS unit for back pain reviews, these units are small and lightweight. Some units even have a clip or pouch to enable the user to easily attach the unit to a belt. For complete discretion when using the TENS unit, you could even carry it in a pocket. This makes it ideal for use at work and even when out in public.

Positioning the pads for the electrodes can be a little tricky at first, especially if the pain is in the lower back, which can be difficult to reach. You will quickly get used to positioning the pads, however, but if you do experience difficulties, you may need to ask someone else to help attach the pads.