main differences between TENS and EMS
What is TENS?
Its name is the English abbreviation of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. This technology is used to relieve pain through control, so it sends pleasant sensitive information to the brain instead of information corresponding to pain.
The feeling is similar to the tingling that stimulates only sensitive fibers.
What is EMS?
EMS refers to electrical muscle stimulation, which stimulates muscles with appropriate electrical pulses, allowing the user to produce muscle contractions of a predetermined intensity.
This stimulation acts directly on the target muscles through a device equipped with electrodes, thereby improving physical fitness and strengthening muscle area tension.
It has a variety of sports, therapeutic and cosmetic uses.
The main differences between TENS and EMS technologies
Let's quickly look at the differences between these two technologies.
different goals
They have different goals: TENS produces pulses to play a pain-relieving role, while EMS acts on the muscles.
This is the biggest difference between them, because if you want to relieve pain in a certain part of the body, you can use TENS technology, but if you need to improve physical condition or performance, etc., then EMS is recommended.
They vary in intensity
TENS is usually lower (up to about 50 mA), while EMS has a peak current of 80 or 100 mA. The electrodes of different devices also vary, TENS electrodes are usually smaller and the same size, while EMS electrodes can be combined and adjusted for different muscles and stimulation methods.
the motor response
In addition, the motor response is different, because muscle electrical stimulation needs to exceed the motor threshold to stimulate and strengthen the muscle unless a fixed frequency is used. TENS works on the stimulation of sensitive nerve fibers, while EMS works on the stimulation of motor nerve fibers.
What to choose when you need stimulation: TENS or EMS?
Transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS) is ideal for treating chronic and acute pain. Some studies have shown that it is effective in relieving postoperative pain, chronic musculoskeletal pain, and osteoarthritis. However, knowing the recommended intensity level is essential to achieve every analgesic goal. Scientific studies show that both high-frequency and low-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) produce effects by activating receptors in the central nervous system itself.
If the goal is to achieve aesthetic and athletic results, EMS should be used. Therefore, many coaches use it as one of the main tools for individual, group and multi-set training.
It is ideal for building strength, endurance, training muscles such as the buttocks, abdomen, and for active recovery. In short, electrical muscle stimulation is an applied technology that is particularly suitable for the fields of sports, health and aesthetics.
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