�鶹��

The TENS controller in this kit looks like a Walkman when worn on my belt. The integrated metal clip can also hang directly on the waist of pants. With up to four wires coming out, the gadget appears ready for a headphone party. In fact, each wire runs to two electrodes and self-adhesive pads. All together, the controller can drive up to eight pads: two is the minimum. The pads are reusable at least a few times since they should be applied to dry skin free of creams and oils. The controller can run on four AA batteries (included). Use the provided wall adapter instead if you do not need to move around. A compact hard storage case holds all the hardware and has room for self-adhesive pads as well. The device can operate in a few TENS modes to relax muscles as the manual describes it. EMS modes can recondition or exercise muscles, after injury or for strength improvement respectively. The Burst pattern offers the strongest stimulation by far as a TENS mode. My forearm and hand were basically jumping off my lap until I dialed down the effective power on the two pads I was using. Other TENS patterns (Normal, Modulation, SD1, SD2) were more gentle at the same power, with either steady or gradually changing wave patterns. I have yet to try a session in EMS, which provides wave patterns called Synchronous and Alternate. See my attached photo for the waveforms. The four channels on the controller are independent of each other in terms of effective power, which is measured from 1 to 100; 0 is off. I believe the technical adjustment is current amplitude (while voltage is more or less constant). Adjusting from low to high provides a gradual ramp in muscle stimulation. The Set button on the controller allows you to customize pulse width and pulse frequency. A high value for width makes muscles stay contracted for a longer time, which feels uncomfortable if effective power is high. A high frequency decreases the amount of time between pulses, which makes the therapy feel faster. Low values for width and frequency make the whole experience gentle or imperceptible. Thus slowly increasing power or evaluating different modes is advisable. My wife found leaning forward during a session increased the strength of stimulation from pads on her upper back. I believe her change in posture caused nerves and muscles to align differently under the skin (under the pads). When I had pads on the left and right of my lower back, I noticed the TENS sensations were not the same on both sides. I gathered that very small changes in pad placement (or muscle movements under the skin) yield significant shifts in electrical transmission to nerves. From what I have read, a doctor, especially an acupuncturist familiar with nerves, is best able to place electrodes for optimal therapy. For the rest of us, careful trial and error plus small incremental power adjustments suffice. Unlike a massage, a TENS treatment does not feel luxurious or relaxing while in progress. At the same time, it should not be painful or excessively jolting, which is why the effective power can be controlled. The lightest treatment that I can sense gives the impression of water dripping on my skin. Stronger treatment feels like tapping. The highest settings in Burst mode cause involuntary large movements, which is undesirable but not painful. In general, the TENS experience is a bit weird, but my wife and I just watch TV during evening sessions. I was surprised my somewhat sore lower back felt improved in localized spots in the morning after 30 minutes of TENS with four pads. I think using all eight possible pads on the back for 60 minutes would be most advantageous for me. My hand with a carpal tunnel issue (worsened by a surgical scar in the palm on top of the nerve) was another test case for this TENS machine. Hard massages by hand, manual tools, or vibrating machines help the aggravated nerve work better for just minutes afterwards. However, 30 minutes of TENS on my palm and forearm produced mild soothing for my hand that lasted at least 8 hours. Of course, the improvement was small, but I noticed and welcomed it. I hope experiments with treatment duration and pad placement can achieve a better effect. This kit works. Not everyone will feel an immediate benefit, but trying different placements, durations, and settings has helped me. I will definitely keep using this product to get more out of it.