TENS units

How TENS works, where pads go, and how to choose a home unit.

Pick a guide below. Each one explains what to look for and how to use the product safely. It also says when to ask a doctor or other expert first. Sources are listed at the end of every guide.

Guides in this section

TENS Unit for Back Pain: What It Can and Cannot Do

Thinking about a TENS unit for back pain? What the evidence says, how to place pads on the lower back, which features ma

TENS Unit Pads: Sizes, Care and When to Replace Them

How to choose TENS unit pads and electrodes: matching connectors, picking a size, cleaning reusable gel pads, and the si

TENS Unit for Sciatica: Pad Placement and Safe Use

Using a TENS unit for sciatica: how to place pads along the path of leg pain, what the unit can realistically do, and th

Wireless TENS Unit: Is Going Cord-Free Worth It?

What a wireless TENS unit is, how app and remote control work, wired vs wireless trade-offs, and the safety features and

TENS vs EMS: Does a TENS Unit Relax Muscles?

TENS vs EMS explained: TENS targets nerves to ease pain, EMS makes muscles contract. Which relaxes muscles, what the FDA

How to Use a TENS Unit: A Step-by-Step First Session

How to use a TENS unit safely: prepping skin, placing pads, setting intensity, what pulse rate and width mean, ending th

TENS Unit for Labor: What the Evidence Says and How to Prepare

Thinking of a TENS unit for labor? What the evidence shows, why it suits early labor best, how to practice with your mid

What Does a TENS Unit Do? How It Works and What to Expect

What a TENS unit does: how mild current through skin pads may ease pain, what the settings mean, how long relief lasts,

TENS Unit Placement Chart: Where Pads Go and Never Go

A plain TENS unit placement chart: the rules behind pad placement, layouts by body area, and the spots where TENS pads s

Best TENS Unit for Home Use: A Feature-by-Feature Guide

How to pick the best TENS unit for home use: OTC clearance, channels, presets vs adjustable settings, timers, safety cut

TENS Unit for Feet: Neuropathy, Pad Placement and Safety

Using a TENS unit for feet: evidence for diabetic nerve pain, why numb skin is off limits, where pads go, and which foot

TENS Unit for Period Cramps: Placement, Use and Limits

Can a TENS unit ease period cramps? What Mayo Clinic and the NHS say, where to place pads, how to pair it with heat and

TENS Unit for Shoulder Pain: Placement and Safety Tips

Using a TENS unit for shoulder pain: which shoulder problems it suits, where to place pads while keeping clear of the ne

How Often Can You Use a TENS Unit? Session Length and Limits

How often can you use a TENS unit, and for how long? What Cleveland Clinic and makers' manuals say about session length,