TENS

[Birch]

Transcutenous Electric Nerve Stimulator
Basically, it is what a physio uses on you to rehab your muscles. The electric therapy thing.

Firstly: It is a NERVE stimulator not a muscle stimulator.

Anyway I now have one and it is good for help fixing little pains and such. Now, where I got it from (lisenced medical bastards) have told me that to get to the nerves the TENSs' energy has to pass through your muscles. And if you were to lower the voltage, it only gets to the muscle. And there is in fact a way to work out your muscles, by tensing against the contractions caused by the electricity.
I have with it 8 pads. You have to use then in even numbers as the electricity flows to its pair. So, 2, 4, 6, or 8

Does anyone know if this could somehow be used in conjuction with other training such as lifting to make faster progress?

[Dave]

mmm i dunno about that...


I know it is used to reduce pain not sure about the whole work out thing.

"Studies show effect, but weak effect. It is not a good substitute for most established painkillers."

[Rahf]

I don't reckon you should tamper with medical equipment without some sort of proper knowledge and/or education in that field. In any case I also reckon it would be equal to one of those abtronic pulse things.

[Birch]

I don't reckon you should tamper with medical equipment without some sort of proper knowledge and/or education in that field. In any case I also reckon it would be equal to one of those abtronic pulse things.

Well thats why Im asking here in case anyone has a clue.
So its a no go for other than what it is intended for?

[compleks]

I doubt it would be worth even experimenting with.

[Rahf]

Well thats why Im asking here in case anyone has a clue.
So its a no go for other than what it is intended for?

I doubt it would be worth even experimenting with.

A question and a proper answer.

[chicanerous]

Transcutenous Electric Nerve Stimulator
Basically, it is what a physio uses on you to rehab your muscles. The electric therapy thing.

Firstly: It is a NERVE stimulator not a muscle stimulator.

Anyway I now have one and it is good for help fixing little pains and such. Now, where I got it from (lisenced medical bastards) have told me that to get to the nerves the TENSs' energy has to pass through your muscles. And if you were to lower the voltage, it only gets to the muscle. And there is in fact a way to work out your muscles, by tensing against the contractions caused by the electricity.
I have with it 8 pads. You have to use then in even numbers as the electricity flows to its pair. So, 2, 4, 6, or 8

Does anyone know if this could somehow be used in conjuction with other training such as lifting to make faster progress?
I think Waterbury or Thibaudeau wrote an article on using one of these in conjunction with your training. You have to have one that is pretty powerful though. If there is no article, I might just be remembering numerous passing references that I know I've at least seen by one of them to this type of machine.

[TKD_Andy]

I doubt it would be worth even experimenting with.

theyre actually pretty good.

my mum had pretty chronic back pain after knee surgery (not being able to walk properly post-surgery screwed up her back and posture) and she borrowed a tens machine from some friends of ours who work at a hospice.

It worked pretty well and was a good pain reliever when she was just sat watching TV or relaxing.

Theyre not designed to be painkillers i believe, theyre meant for temporary pain relief. However it does not work in all cases. I imagine that if my gf used it (she has severe chronic back pain) that it would only make it worse.

Its very dependent on your situation, injury type and bodily reaction to it. Its always an option and can help alot of people, so i'd say its worth considering.

-----------------------------

as far as using it as a subsitute for working out, thats just damn lazy!

[Rahf]

I do think they work as a rehabilitation method. But as a method for working out, they're bogus, like Compleks said.

[TKD_Andy]

i vaguely recall a bruce lee quote when he used one saying "its like doing a hundred pushups every second" or some crap like that.

I doubt it makes any real difference.

[Rahf]

i vaguely recall a bruce lee quote when he used one saying "its like doing a hundred pushups every second" or some crap like that.

I doubt it makes any real difference.

It's like a bodybuilder claiming that you can work out the crack between your pectorals with this or that exercise.