Although PainPod and Hidow machines are arguably best known for effective drug-free pain relief (1) they have additional functionality that extends beyond pain management. Besides TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) they also have EMS (electrical muscle stimulation), another form of therapy that involves applying an electrical current to specific body areas.

While TENS uses mild electrical impulses to block pain signals from reaching the brain and releases endorphins for drug-free pain relief (1), which is a major drawcard for many, EMS delivers electric impulses to the muscles to help increase blood circulation, promote muscle strengthening and recovery, and ease soreness and swelling after physical activity (2) (3). As a result EMS also has valuable day-to-day applications.

If you use a treadmill, exercise bike, or gym equipment, you’re a keen road runner or play sports every weekend, for example, you’ll undoubtedly experience post-activity muscle fatigue. However, the EMS function on your PainPod device can help ease muscle soreness and aid a more speedy recovery (2) (3). You’ll also benefit if you enjoy more passive exercise such as walking the dog a couple of times a day, or vigorous playtime with your kids in the park on the weekend.

[A close-up image shows a person's foot resting on a rugby ball while using an PainPod TENS/EMS device. A Premium Medium electrode pad is attached to the side of their ankle, connected by a black electrode wire. The person is sitting on a couch with their legs extended, and the scene is set on a wooden floor with part of a light-coloured rug visible nearby.]

As the sporting legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Usain Bolt and celebrities including Tom Holland and Chrissy Teigen have discovered, EMS can be incorporated into a workout in various ways. EMS can be used as a performance-enhancing tool to activate muscles before physical activity, such as intense workouts or if participating in competitions or key sporting events (4).

Additionally, it can help build muscle strength by simulating contractions. This is especially useful for targeting hard-to-reach muscle groups such as those in the feet, or muscles that are not engaged as often as they should be. It may also help prevent cramps if you’re prone (5).

EMS is also often offered as part of physiotherapy regimes to help treat conditions that have caused weakened or injured muscles or muscle spasms. As a temporary replacement for exercise, it can also help to maintain or regain muscle mass and strength after injuries, or when recovering from surgery where physical activity is limited for extended periods (6).

[A middle-aged woman with shoulder-length blonde hair is sitting on a beige couch, reading a book. She is wearing a white t-shirt and denim shorts. Premium Medium electrode pads connected to a PainPod 3 TENS/EMS device are placed on her upper arms and lower leg. The device is resting on the couch beside her, with black electrode wires connecting it to the pads. Decorative pillows are arranged behind her for support.]

EMS can even be used to contract and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles to help people with urinary incontinence issues, with evidence to suggest that it may also help reduce bladder urgency and overactive bladder (7) (8) (9 (10).

PainPod and Hidow machines offer TENS and EMS in a single device, therapies that can contribute to your overall health, fitness and wellness. Along with convenience, portability, and the ability to customise treatments on the go or in the privacy of your home, there’s a range of wearable accessories you can add to your device to tailor your experience including foot, knee, shoulder wraps and more. And there’s the bonus of a feel-good massage, as you can also use your machine for a relaxing foot massage or to soothe a sore back after a long day.

Resources:

https://thepainpod.com/pages/faqs

https://thepainpod.com/blogs/news/fast-faqs-about-ems-machines

https://www.healthline.com/health/tens-vs-ems#about-tens

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/electrical-muscle-stimulation

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/

https://www.smh.com.au/

https://www.usatoday.com/

References:

1. Vance, et al. Using TENS for pain control: the state of the evidence. Pain Management. 3: 197-209, 2014

2. Kwon, DR. et al. Short-term micro-current electrical neuromuscular stimulation to improve muscle function in the elderly: A randomised, double-blinded, sham-controlled clinical trial. Medicine. 96:26, 2017

3. Taylor, et al. The impact of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on recovery after intensive, muscle damaging, maximal speed training in professional team sports players. J Sci Med Sport. 2015 May;18(3):328-32

4. Biol Sport. Different recovery methods and muscle performance after exhausting exercise: comparison of the effects of electrical muscle stimulation and massage. Pinar. 2012. 29(4): p. 269-75

5. PLoS One. A promising approach to effectively reduce cramp susceptibility in human muscles: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Behringer, 2014. 9(4): p. e94910

6. Crit Care. Electrical muscle stimulation preserves the muscle mass of critically ill patients: a randomized study. Gerovasilli, 2009. 13(5): p. R161

7. IBJU. Electrical Stimulation for Urinary Incontinence in Women: A Systematic Review. 39(4): p. 454-464. Schreiner, 2013*

8. J Urol. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for refractory daytime urinary urge incontinence 182(4 Suppl): p. 2072-8. Hagstroem, 2009*

9 Expert Opin Emerg Drugs. New therapies in the treatment of overactive bladder. 18(3): p. 319-37. Yeo, 2013*

10. World J Urol. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation: an effective treatment for refractory non-neurogenic overactive bladder syndrome. 31(5): p. 1205-10. Tellenbach, 2013*