The Best Muscle Stimulators

Roscoe Medical TENS7000

Relieve Tension

If the effects of past injuries are cropping up again, this is the perfect product for placating your nerve endings.

Best Overall

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TENS units were first used almost half a century ago as a testing device for chronic pain patients. When patients overwhelmingly reported significant pain relief during testing, the invasive practice of attaching electrodes to the spine fell out of favor, and the modern TENS machine was born. Roscoe Medical’s TENS7000 unit comes highly recommended for those that suffer from both high-intensity work injuries as well as more chronic, office-related maladies. The TENS7000 has a digital display with easy-to-follow directions and a handful of settings with varying intensity. To use this device, set the electronic frequency intensity, apply the adhesive pads to your skin, and soak up the benefits.

Pros:

• Two channels to work on different muscles simultaneously
• Carrying case and batteries included
• The pads are highly adhesive

Cons:

• Burns through batteries fairly quickly

Belifu TENS001 Massager

Shocking Muscle Support

Utilizing pinpoint electric pulses, this unit offers extended pain relief when you need it most.

Best for Travel

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The TENS001 Massager by Belifu is a compact, no-nonsense option perfect for the road or the home office. To start, this one supports a maximum of six pads on two frequency channels, a stand-out feature for ultimate versatility. The software boasts a total of 24 unique massage modes outlined in the included user manual. These settings can vary from more consistent, deep pulses to treatments that mimic acupuncture for specific parts of the body. In addition to superior functionality, Belifu’s product was designed with convenience in mind — the USB charging port, intuitive display, and sturdy buttons make this device accessible for everyone, no matter the setting.

Pros:

• Increase or decrease treatment time by intervals of ten minutes
• Less than twelve ounces of total weight
• Travel bag included with pads and charging cable

Cons:

• The various modes can be a bit overwhelming and seem to overlap

TechCare Touch X Massager

Power Through Persistent Pain

This is a user-friendly device that boasts an impressive amount of modes and power levels.

Easiest to Use

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Far too often, an overabundance of dials and settings make muscle stimulators feel like a chore to use. TechCare’s Touch X Massager is so user-friendly, don’t be surprised if you confuse it for a smartphone. The Touch X’s full touch-screen build features six modes that imitate physical therapy massages and four settings that vary each style’s periods of intensity and oscillations. The actual power of the output is changed via side buttons similar to a smartphone’s volume controls, starting with small pain-mitigating pulses and ending with jolts that can contract and work muscle groups for serious recovery needs. When you don’t have the time or capital to receive in-person treatment for burdensome or sore muscles, few non-invasive pain management solutions offer as wide a range of remedies as Techcare without breaking the bank.

Pros:

• Comes with helpful pad placement guide
• EMS mode works to stimulate muscles instead of nerves
• Screen lock prevents accidental mode-switching

Cons:

• Does not remember the last setting used after power-down

iReliev TENS and EMS Muscle Stimulator

Pulses, Not Prescriptions

This all-in-one therapeutic device is designed to alleviate pain and speed up recuperation.

Largest Pads

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If your injury is far from typical, iReliev’s muscle stimulator can provide next-level relief where others fall short. This device is designed not only to encourage the release of endorphins for pain suppression but also to aid in direct muscle recovery. Electrical Muscle Stimulation, or EMS, uses electrical current to contract muscles without undue strain. This increasingly popular form of therapy is used when a patient’s surgery or injury can lead to muscular atrophy. But if you find yourself on your feet and in need of the more traditional pain relief, iReliev is made for active bodies, too. The lead wires are long enough to reach across the body and underneath clothes, while the belt clip securely fastens the device to your person for discreet, all-day use.

Pros:

• Jumbo pads offer relief for the entire lower back
• Includes 14 presets while allowing for minute changes in frequency and power
• Top value for the price
• Extremely durable electrode pads

Cons:

• Alkaline batteries may not produce sufficient power for the highest intensity setting

Balego MT100I Digital Neuromuscular Stimulator

Very Valuable Voltage

This digital neuromuscular stimulator will ensure your physical therapy never stops, even when you're on bed rest.

Best EMS Stimulator

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Whether you’re a professional athlete trying to squeeze every minute out of your recovery day or a manual laborer without the luxury of recovery days, Balego’s MT100I digital neuromuscular stimulator is ready to become your muscles’ best friend. The MT100I features self-adhering electrodes coated with a cool hydrogel that the company claims will outlast all of the competition. While we couldn’t recommend wearing the MT100I while working in blistering heat or skiing down a frigid mountain, the stainless steel belt buckle will keep the unit in place during deliberate or medium-paced work. What makes Balego rise above the competition is the simplicity of the software. Very few EMS devices feature a “constant” setting, which allows uninterrupted, pulse-free frequency, and even fewer have an “unlimited” timer mode. The MT100I has both.

Pros:

• Made in the USA
• Setting storage for effortless use
• A protective latch prevents power fluctuations when on the go

Cons:

• The screen is not backlit and can be hard to view in the dark

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the science behind muscle stimulators?
In the world of muscle stimulation, there are currently two popular retail models. TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) devices are designed to stimulate your nerve endings and reduce pain. By sending harmless electric pulses to an area of the body, TENS units block the nerve endings in question from registering pain in the surrounding area; meanwhile, they also spur the creation of endorphins, which are naturally-occurring painkilling chemicals in the body.

EMS (electric muscle stimulation) devices send larger pulses directly to your muscle fiber instead of the nerves, similar to what our brains do when moving our limbs. This process can reduce inflammation and swelling in muscle tissue, which translates to faster recovery times.

Is there proof that muscle stimulators alone can grow muscle?
Unfortunately, there is no proof that muscle stimulators directly “grow” muscle. While it is true that all things held constant, an individual who works out and uses an EMS will have better results than an individual that only exercises, this is due to the symbiotic relationship these devices have with our bodies. Any good physical therapist will tell you that even low-intensity stretching helps grow muscle and reduce the injury time; think of EMS devices like low-impact stretching. While the act itself is stimulating the muscles, it isn’t enough to cause the muscles to tear and rebuild more strongly, like the process that occurs during a workout. Instead, the contractions provided by muscle stimulators increase blood flow, deter inflammation, and reduce pain.