Using Tens Unit Sore Muscles (DOMS)

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a method of pain relief involving the use of a mild electrical current.

A TENS machine is a small, battery-operated device that has leads connected to sticky pads called electrodes.

You attach the pads directly to your skin. When the machine is switched on, small electrical impulses are delivered to the affected area of your body, which you feel as a tingling sensation.

The electrical impulses can reduce the pain signals going to the spinal cord and brain, which may help relieve pain and relax muscles. They may also stimulate the production of endorphins, which are the body's natural painkillers.

Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) is exercise-related muscle pain. It develops after excessive and unaccustomed exercise. It is particularly prevalent if that exercise has an eccentric component.

Eccentric exercise is an exercise where the muscles are contracting whilst lengthening – eg downhill running, long distance running, plyometric exercises, and landing drills.

What Causes DOMS? 

DOMS is caused by myofibril tears (muscle strains). The micro trauma results in an inflammatory response with intramuscular fluid and electrolyte shifts. 

We do know that biochemical markers (such as creatine kinase and lactic dehydrogenase) are found in the blood of DOMS sufferers, which is consistent with muscle fibre disruption.

Swelling, altered muscle firing patterns and pain is thought to be the reason why muscle strength, motions and function is impaired in DOMS sufferers.

According to studies, TENS Unit helps relieve muscle knots, muscle tightness, soreness and even spasms with its pain alleviating effects.

When muscles are injured or in pain, a phenomena known as muscle guarding occurs. Muscle guarding is when muscles surrounding the injuring tighten up to protect the area from further harm and facilitate healing. Since TENS Unit eases pain and creates endorphin flow, it can switch this response off, reducing muscle tightness and knots.

The pain-reducing effects help loosen the muscle knot and curtail the “guarding” reaction that causes tightness. Endorphins released by therapeutic TENS devices also help reduce knot formation.

With both a TENS Unit and EMS Unit treatment you can reduce pain from muscle knots while improving range of motion.

Buy your TechCare Tens Unit today to help you with your sore muscles.