Questions about TENS unit

[halcyon]

I did a bunch of Web searches to find some PT forums, but I could only come up with very little. If this is not the appropriate forum for such questions, could you please tell me where on the Web I should ask them? Thanks for any help.

I have a TENS unit that also has EMS, Russian, and Interferential. I have a few questions:

1) If you want to treat spasticity and improve range of motion, can you use either TENS or EMS, or is one better than the other for these issues?

2) I've looked at various electrode-placement guides on the Web. I noticed that one guide has TENS placements for the ankle and knee, but no EMS placements for those areas. Can you not use EMS on the ankle or knee?

3) Can you use TENS/EMS on the hands and feet too?

4) Does it matter whether you use 2 electrode pairs at the same time, or is one pair at a time usually good enough?

Needless to say, I am not a PT. So if there's another forum on the Web that would be a better place to post these questions, please let me know. Thanks so much for any info.

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[Fyzzio]

May I suggest for you to consult a Neuro Specialist Physical Therapist to answer your questions.

There are specific guidelines, but I wouldn't recommend for anyone without a health professional background to just go and apply them.
You can use TENS and EMS everywhere on your body unless it is contraindicated.
TENS and EMS are different 'currents' with different effects/ goals/ purposes/ impacts.
How many pairs of electrodes you can use depends on your machine.
While following general guidelines, electrode placement is different for every person and e.g. depends on the size of your muscle body.

Regards,
Fyzzio

[halcyon]

May I suggest for you to consult a Neuro Specialist Physical Therapist to answer your questions.

There are specific guidelines, but I wouldn't recommend for anyone without a health professional background to just go and apply them.
You can use TENS and EMS everywhere on your body unless it is contraindicated.
TENS and EMS are different 'currents' with different effects/ goals/ purposes/ impacts.
How many pairs of electrodes you can use depends on your machine.
While following general guidelines, electrode placement is different for every person and e.g. depends on the size of your muscle body.

Regards,
Fyzzio

Thanks for the info, Fyzzio. I'm not sure where I'd be able to find one of those PTs, but I have been reading up on TENS and know to be very careful with it. For instance, I know that you're not supposed to place the electrodes on the head, the thorax, or the front of the neck. My machine does allow you to use four pairs of electrodes at once, but since I'm just a beginner, I figure it's probably safest to use only one pair at a time. Anyway, your tips have definitely helped, and I appreciate your taking the time to respond.

[Sands of Chiro]

Not to hijack thread, but any info on the LLLT therapy? I see it come up as a suggested alternative to TENS machines all the time.

[halcyon]

Not to hijack thread, but any info on the LLLT therapy? I see it come up as a suggested alternative to TENS machines all the time.

Very interesting. I had never heard of this kind of laser therapy before. Can it be used for EMS type tasks as well (such as building up muscles and increasing range of motion), or is it only for pain?

Incidentally, I did talk to a PT. He told me to experiment with the TENS unit. I asked him about some of the various EMS settings (such as ramp time), and he explained a little bit but actually seemed a bit confused about some of them. Anyway, in a nutshell, he said to just try different things and see what's helpful, which I plan to do.