Electronic Pain Relief Devices: 6 Electrical Pain Relief Devices| TENS, EMS, Red Light, Ultrasound,

This is a reader-supported website. By clicking on product links, you help us keep producing independent objective analysis at no cost to you. Thanks for your support!

Electronic Pain Relief Machines to Reduce Joint and Muscle Pain

If you have joint pain, I am with you. I’ve had my share of immobilizing back pain and knee pain, not to mention other joints too. So, I want to share some of the devices you can use right at home to soothe those aches! The inspiration for this post is the fact that I got hit by a motorcycle and injured my right knee – the same one that has had two knee surgeries.

I saw an orthopedist who told me I didn’t have a real serious operable injury, but I was still on crutches. He recommended some NSAID drugs with dangerous side effects that, when I looked into it online, I wanted to avoid.

My TENS, EMS and Other Devices to Quell Pain

I then decided to see a physical therapist who used several different kinds of treatment, including heat, cold, ultrasound, and TENS. After a couple of those treatments, I saw good improvement without using drugs. I’m posting this out of my own experience, so you can benefit from what I have learned both at the PT’s office as well as my own research.

Nope, I am not a ‘medical professional,’ but hey, the MD was going to prescribe a drug that may end up doing more harm than good. Are you with me on the benefit of not being over-reliant on expensive prescription drugs?

Then read on!

More and More People Seek to Relieve Pain

In 2012, 40 million Americans reported knee pain. With the U.S. population aging, participating in extreme sports more often, and becoming more overweight on average, that number is undoubtedly larger today. And if you experience knee pain, you know all too well the range of negative impacts it has on daily life.

Joint and knee pain trends 2004 to 2019 have gone up 2 to 4 times!

Electronic Pain Relief Devices: Knee and Joint Pain Reduction Gadgets

There are many options for relieving knee pain. In this article, we explore therapies that use electrical devices to reduce knee and joint pain. In this study, we reviewed the results for electronic pain relief devices.

If you search this term, guess how many results there are. On Google, there are 15,900,000 results! Crazy! But if you go to Amazon and type in the same search term, guess how many?

Over 600 results! Who has time to sort through all those? So, we used the primary criteria of star ranking. Any product with less than a 4-star rating, we eliminated. But that still left over 300! The point of this study is to give you an idea of what is available among those that are the most popular, and with the fewest complaints.

The approach I am using to evaluate these is NOT my personal experience of each product. That is less helpful than evaluating the opinions of THOUSANDS of customers who have bought and used these. Which approach is better: One person’s personal opinion that may be biased or the feedback of many?

These therapies include:

• Red LED Therapy Device
• Infrared light heat therapy lamp
• Far Infrared Heating Pad
• TENS Electronic Pulse Massager for Electrical Muscle Stimulation
• TENS + EMS Combination Unit Muscle Stimulator
• Ultrasound Pain Relief for Home Use

These are the machines we’ll discuss. Feel free to click on any of the buttons here. Or read on for more detail on six different approaches to deal with your pain.

Last update on 2024-10-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

• Tendlite Red LED Therapy Device
• Beurer Infrared light heat therapy lamp
• UTK Far Infrared Heating Pad
• TENS 7000 Electronic Pulse Massager for Electrical Muscle Stimulation
• i iRelieve TENS + EMS Combination Unit Muscle Stimulator
• Ultra Care Pro Ultrasound Pain Relief for Home Use

So, let’s take these one at a time, see what characteristics each one has, and see what the general opinion is, one at a time.

Tendlite® Cold Laser Red LED Therapy Device

Last update on 2024-10-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This is regarded as one of the top red light therapy devices for pain relief according to over 50,000 happy and satisfied customers. If you don’t think it is the best too, then you can get your money back within 60 days with their manufacturer’s return policy.

This red light therapy device can be used at home and self-administered without a prescription. They are painless, fast, and easy treatments. Simply shine the light for one minute directly at the joint or disc. It then targets the pain and the cause of the pain. It is made with durable material that is built to last. It is lightweight, easy to handle, and uses state of the art technology for home treatments at a fraction of the cost it would be with your doctor, trainer, or physical therapist.

[table id=2 /]

Cold Laser Therapy (also known as low-level laser therapy or LLLT) is a popular option for treating knee pain without surgery or drugs. It is also safe to use in combination with other treatments, such as physical therapy. The concept behind LLLT is that specific wavelengths of light can stop the pain and swelling in connective tissue.

The FDA approves the use of LLLT, a biostimulation laser, for temporary pain relief, including knee pain.

What to Expect

Simply place the hand-held device over the injured area. The device emits specific wavelengths of light into the affected tissue. It releases the low-level laser light for 30-120 seconds, depending on the dose desired. Determining LLLT doses depends on the extent of the injury and size of the injured area.

Research into LLLT doses shows that there can be benefits to cold laser therapy but not in all cases. There is also no accepted standard for determining the dose and duration of treatment. If you are uncertain how to use it, be sure to talk with a professional, such as a physical therapist.

How Does Cold Laser Therapy Work?

Non-thermal photons of light pass through all layers of skin to reach the painful area. The light reaches the site and reacts with the light-sensitive components of tissue cells. Many people relate it to photosynthesis in plants.

In that process, plants absorb sunlight and convert it into energy for growth and repair. The theory is that the light activates cellular processes that reduce inflammation and swelling. That kind of damage is one possible cause of knee pain. Scientific research into the exact cellular processes at the root of LLLT continues.

At the same time, no study has resulted in adverse effects to people receiving cold laser therapy.

Advantages of Cold Laser Treatments

The most obvious advantage of using cold laser therapy is that it’s non-invasive. This makes treatment more comfortable than surgery and significantly reduces recovery time. The fact that cold laser therapy has no side effects is also an advantage. The cost of LLLT is lower than surgery. The difference grows if you factor the cost of lost productivity and post-procedure care.

Disadvantages of Cold Laser Therapy

The disadvantage reported by most users is the length of treatment. Relief from knee pain can take 6-20 sessions. Variables include the level of pain and size of the affected area and your general health. The dose of LLLT and frequency of treatment sessions also play a role. Cold laser therapy is not covered in full or in part by all insurance plans. However, as noted, you can learn how to use it yourself.

Considerations If There is a Possibility of Active Cancer or Lesions

It is best to avoid LLLT if there is the possibility of active cancer or lesions near the affected area. It’s wise to consult with a professional if you have any questions, or if it’s ok to use with children under the age of 16 or if you’re pregnant.

While some cold laser therapy machines are not available to consumers, this one is available without needing a prescription, a distinct advantage for those wanting to avoid expensive treatments.

As for customer opinions, The Tendlite Device generally has positive sentiment. One account is by a chiropractor–he talked about his horse, which had experienced an injury.

With just one treatment, the horse was feeling good enough to lie down and his horse friend, lay down with him since he knew his injured friend was feeling better. We should all hear such stories of healing and kindness of animals!

You can read all about it here.

Severe End-Stage Hip Arthritis

Rather than accepting a total hip replacement, which carries its own risks. One story about Tendlite is that having tried other red light therapy products without success, one woman found that it had given her the relief she needed to avoid surgery. That’s the type of story we all like to hear.

Complaints

One complaint is that the heat bulb didn’t last long, or another, that it didn’t provide relief, and the company didn’t offer good return service. However, positive sentiment outweighs negative by about 3 to. So you might want to take a look at this product.

Beurer Infrared Light Heat Lamp Red Light Therapy

Last update on 2024-10-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This infrared therapy light is portable, convenient, and incredibly easy to use. It features an adjustable tilt angle so you can have more direct heating where you need it the most. It also has a portable cord winder to make it easier to put away when you are done.

The size of this lamp makes it the ideal choice for treating larger areas of the body. A minimum distance of 12 to 16 inches is recommended. It provides effective pain relief by deeply penetrating each layer of the skin. It helps to improve your cardiovascular health, treats inflammation, and promotes cell repair.

[table id=3 /]

A study on the effectiveness of infrared light therapy for low back pain relief showed that subjects who received treatment with infrared heat had an average reported a pain level of 3 out of 10. That was down from 6.9 out of 10 at the start of the study.

An infrared heat lamp produces benign radiation. There are three kinds of infrared heat. The one used in infrared heat therapy that penetrates beyond the skin is IR-A. This Infrared Heat Lamp is reasonably priced.

How Do Infrared Heat Treatments Work?

Applied heat can promote the repair and rehabilitation of joints, muscles, and tendons. It improves the resilience of collagen. Collagen connects and supports muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, skin, and bone. Heat therapy can also ease inflammation, reduce muscle spasms, and increase blood flow. Improved blood flow accelerates the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to the damaged area, which, in turn, promotes healing.

There are many ways to deliver heat therapy. The most basic and accessible are a warm bath and hot compress. These remedies are fine for the relief of minor and temporary pain. But for chronic or severe musculoskeletal pain such as knee pain, infrared heat, such as this heat lamp uses, is more effective.

Infrared heat increases the temperature of tissue, muscles, tendons, etc. below the skin. But the temperature of the skin itself doesn’t increase much at all. Because the skin doesn’t get hot, high levels of heat can be delivered to the damaged tissues. The duration of treatment can also be longer.

Conclusion

This Lamp has a good reputation. Sometimes the heat lamp fails early, but it is replaceable under the guarantee. See here for details.

One hazard is that if the device tips over, the heat could start a fire. However, it turns off automatically after 15 minutes. Likewise, if you touch the heating lamp at any time or shortly after turning it off, you will get a burn. That should be as obvious as not touching a hot stove.

UTK Far Infrared Heating Pad

Last update on 2024-10-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This is one of the best infrared heating pads for the pain you can purchase. It features a carbon fiber heating element and its far-infrared rays penetrate deeply throughout the muscles, tissues, and joints. It helps increase circulation and reduces inflammation.

It has an adjustable temperature that maxes out at 159-degrees Fahrenheit, and the heating pad contains 126 individual certificated jade stones that emit more negative ions as they heat up. It has a memory function as well and is incredibly easy to use. This pad bends with the curvature of your joint, whether straight and bent.

[table id=4 /]

Advantages of Infrared Heat Therapy

The most obvious advantage is the comfort to effectiveness ratio compared to hot compresses. In other words, you get the benefit of heat therapy without burning your skin. Most heat therapy provides some immediate relief. Heat therapy delivered by an infrared heating pad is no exception.

This type of device is common in clinical environments, but you can, of course, get one for yourself for home use. This heating pad makes use of Far Infrared Natural Jade and Tourmaline and is flexible, so it can wrap around a body part to relieve muscle tension where you experience it – back & lower back & shoulders & waist & hip & legs & arms & knee & feet. Also, you can sit on it or lie on it.

Thanks to the nylon hook-and-loop body strap, the UTK heating pad is designed to stay in place throughout your entire treatment session. Use for just 30 minutes daily (or as recommended by your doctor) to increase blood flow and reduce pain and muscle tension.

Disadvantages of Infrared Heat Therapy

It can take 5-20 sessions to achieve long-term relief, depending on the extent of the damage. Often, the best results come from a combination of heat therapy and physical or massage therapy. With at-home infrared heat therapy, trial and error is to be expected.

Finding the optimal treatment duration, temperature, and frequency can take time. For best results, consult with a trained professional before starting at-home treatments.

Considerations

If you are thinking of using an infrared heating pad at home, you’ll be glad to know that the UTK product is FDA registered. You also can set it to a specific time and temperature since the auto-shutoff timers help prevent excessive heat, which can stress or damage soft tissue.

Read product reviews and watch for comments about heat level and fit. Plus, it has a nice long cord so you can use it pretty much anywhere, a bed, chair or whatever.

The UTK Pad generally has positive sentiment. Here is a video review that is worth watching. Some people think that it didn’t work properly, or it broke after a couple of years. Or people just didn’t get any benefit from it. The product does come with a one year warranty and a lifetime replacement warranty for the controller.

TENS 7000 2nd Edition Digital TENS Device with Accessories

Last update on 2024-10-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

If you are looking for prescription pain relief, then this TENS unit muscle stimulator is what you have been looking for. It comes with multiple TENS therapy modes that provide you with instant pain relief. It is also a dual channel TENS unit that works as a muscle stimulator, nerve stimulator, and electric massager in one.

[table id=5 /]

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is an electroanalgesia, that is, a form of pain relief that uses electricity. That means it uses low-voltage electrical pulses designed to relieve pain. Most often, it’s used to treat muscle and joint pain, including knee pain. It can also offer relief from pain caused by osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia.

Research into the effectiveness of TENS is ongoing. There is no conclusive proof yet of its reliability as a method of lasting pain relief. However, if you go to a physical therapist, you will probably find that this type of pain relief machine is in the tool kit.

How Does a TENS Machine Work?

Two electrodes connect the TENS machine to the skin. Both can be placed at the pain site. Or, one can be at the pain site and the other placed on a related pressure point.

With the electrodes in place, a circuit along nerve pathways is created. A battery in the machine delivers a low-voltage current to the body.

Settings for amplitude (intensity), current duration, and current rate (frequency) can be modified. Most machines can deliver a near-continuous current, but this is generally inadvisable. Continuous current can create a kind of nerve fatigue. Many people report it decreased pain levels in response to the current.

There are two prevailing theories to explain why. The first theory is that electricity stimulates the nerves in an affected area. Signals sent to the brain block or overrode the pain signals. The second theory: electric stimulation of nerves promotes the production of endorphins. Endorphins are the body’s natural painkiller.

Common TENS Therapies

Conventional TENS therapy uses high frequency and low-intensity current in short pulses. Pain relief comes quickly and lasts while the current is on. In the absence of the current, pain slowly returns. Using the conventional method, patients can use TENS for 20-30 minutes many times throughout the day.

Another TENS therapy is related to acupuncture in that the electrodes are placed on acupuncture points. The frequency of electrical pulses is moderate, but the intensity is high. Not as many people can tolerate this method compared to conventional therapy.

Acupuncture TENS is most often used for people seeking the benefits of acupuncture but have a fear or intolerance of needles. The pulsed TENS therapy is similar to the conventional method in that it uses short pulses of electricity. The difference is that the intensity of the burst is greater.

Electrode positioning is important and can require trial and error. Putting an electrode on the skin at the pain site is straightforward. But if the other electrode is not on top of trigger points, acupuncture sites, or cutaneous nerves, there may be minimal pain relief. (The cutaneous nerves related to knee pain are usually the anterior cutaneous branches of the femoral nerve and the posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh.)

Advantages of TENS

You can perform at-home therapy once a qualified professional has shown you how to use a TENS machine. They should also provide you with the appropriate settings. Before buying a TENS machine, it’s advisable to share the model and features with your healthcare provider. He/she can ensure the equipment is appropriate for your needs.

Disadvantages of TENS

TENS shouldn’t be used by anyone who is pregnant or has a pacemaker. Learning the proper placement of the electrodes to address your unique circumstances is critical. Electrodes shouldn’t be placed on any part of the body where the person has nerve damage or sensory impairment. Some reports state that about one-quarter of users report skin irritation at electrode sites. TENS machines for at-home use are generally not covered by insurance. Treatments in-clinic might be.

Considerations

Of all the devices reviewed here, the TENS 7000 may be the most popular. There is a similar popular machine by Omron. Omron is a major health technology company with many products, including a TENS machine. The reason I favor this TENS machine is that, although Omron is a more recognized brand, as of this writing, it costs about 2X the TENS 7000. Anyway, you can check out the Omron here.

However, a lower price point suggests that the TENS 7000. with ten years of sales and a million sold, it looks like the better buy.

iReliev TENS + EMS Combination Unit Muscle Stimulator for Pain Relief & Arthritis & Muscle Strength

Last update on 2024-10-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This is a TENS and EMS combination unit, so you are getting two great electrical therapies in one. It has fourteen different therapy modes, seven TENS relief modes, one arthritis TENS mode, and six EMS muscle strength and recovery modes.

It also features 25 levels of 80mA intensity and a 5 to 60-minute adjustable timer, a lock function, dual-channel versatility, and a portable and convenient design that is easy to use.

[table id=6 /]

What is Electrical Muscle Stimulation or EMS?

The primary purpose of Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS), also known as neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) or electromyostimulation, therapy is strengthening and rehabilitating muscle. Some users report a secondary benefit of pain reduction. EMS uses electric impulses to cause small and frequent muscle contractions.

Whereas TENS acts on the nerves, to mimic pain and override the sensation of pain, EMS uses electricity to stimulate the muscle. Having a combination of the two functions, nerve stimulation by a TENS unit and muscle stimulation by an EMS unit gives both functions.

EMS can help to prevent muscle atrophy (muscle gets smaller with lack of use) and can even be used to help build muscles by athletes or help with workout recovery.

Considerations

The iRelieve TENS and EMS Combination Unit uses both the TENS function for pain relief as well as the EMS muscle stimulator. It claims to allow you to stop taking pain pills. It receives this endorsement:

“I, Joe Noel, PT, licensed Physical Therapist in the State of Florida and has practiced as a PT for the last 24 years, do hereby recommend the iReliev TENS + EMS unit for treating pain & increasing muscle strength. I have used TENS & EMS in my clinical practice & recommend for home use. I believe iReliev is uniquely designed to offer RX strength pain relief & muscle conditioning.”

The main complaints are that it doesn’t work. One Critic noted that he should have asked his physical therapist first before using this product. The point being that you can’t be sure that any specific treatment will work or not. Other users have reported that it just isn’t strong enough and wasn’t the high-grade medical quality they were looking to find.

Ultra Care Pro for Pain Relief for Home Use

No products found.

This device has 1 Mhz and is a microprocessor-controlled digital unit. It has a pulsed and continuous application and is very durable. The broader and more comfortable transducer makes it easier to use over broader parts of the body.

It provides deep therapeutic heat for relaxing, to help reduce swelling, and to reduce inflammation.

[table id=7 /]

Ultrasound Therapy for Joint Pain Relief

Ultrasound therapy is used by physical therapists or occupational therapists to treat various types of pain. It acts as both a pain reliever, as well as helping to heal. This machine is a thermal ultrasound machine, which means that the sound waves it produces cause tiny vibrations in the underlying tissues, which result in heat caused by friction. This Ultracare Pro machine is suitable for muscle strains or sprains.

If you have swelling, a mechanical ultrasound machine may work better. It acts by reducing inflammation as it causes the minute gas bubbles in the tissue to expand and contract.

Considerations

It may take some trial and error to see which one works better. A physical therapist’s advice as to whether one or the other type of ultrasound machine would work better for you. A few customers don’t like this product at all, think it’s a waste of money or didn’t even work. One said that it could only be utilized by a trained and licensed healthcare provider because it can cause serious burns to the soft tissue.

Get the Right Treatment for Your Knee Pain

Of course, whenever possible, the prevention of knee pain is best. But if you are experiencing chronic or intense pain, it’s only natural to seek relief. If common approaches such as supplements, massage, or physical therapy don’t bring the results you want, a joint or knee pain treatment machine might be the answer.

Making use of a combination of approaches can work well:

• Knee brace support
• Dietary Changes
• Joint Supplements
• Pain relief medicines for temporary relief, either pills or topical ointments
• Exercise
• Pain relief devices

Factors to Consider in Using a TENS or Other Device

Before you buy the best home electronic joint pain relief device, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

Talk with your doctor or pain management therapist before you purchase any product

• First, you want to talk with your doctor or pain management therapist before you purchase any product. You want to get their guidelines to make sure that it is safe for you to use. You also shouldn’t use these products if you are unsure about what is causing the pain in the first place.

Try It at the Doctor’s Office

• Next, before you purchase one for home, see if your doctor can try it at the office to see if it will even help with your particular pain. This will tell you if it is worth the investment to have one at home for self-treatment.

Expect Several Treatments Before You See Results

• Also, it may take time for some of these devices to start working. So, you may need to go through a number of sessions before you know for sure if any of these electronic devices can help with your pain.

Often, they are a reasonable next step before considering the more complex, invasive, and expensive route of surgery. The journey to discovering the right treatment for your knee pain is personal. We invite you to explore all the information on this site to help you find the treatment that’s right for you.

Thanks for reading!

Many hours went into researching these issues, which will, I hope, save you time, and provide answers to your questions about knee and joint pain in general, as well as pain relief devices in particular. Be sure to explore the links in this article and check out the suggested items.