4 Things You Should Never Do With a TENS Unit

Safety should be your first priority when using a TENS unit. And while TENS units are safe and nearly side effect free, it's still possible to misuse them. Misusing your TENS unit is a great way to get yourself hurt.

Safety should be your first priority when using a TENS unit. And while TENS units are safe and nearly side effect free, it's still possible to misuse them. Misusing your TENS unit is a great way to get yourself hurt.

We want your experience with your TENS unit to be safe and enjoyable, so here are four things you should never do with a TENS unit.

Use On Your Head

Most TENS units are not cleared to be used on the head. You should especially not place the electrode pads over your eyelids or over your sinuses as this is very dangerous.

There are some electrotherapy devices that are specifically designed to be used on your head, but most TENS units are not. Consider checking out some of those devices if you're suffering from chronic migraines or other pain on your head. We recommend to have a look to our review page for popular TENS unit products in the market.

Use While Pregnant

Using a TENS unit while pregnant isn't harmful to the mother, but it could harm the unborn child. For this reason, you should avoid using a TENS unit while pregnant.

It is possible to still use a TENS unit while pregnant with the supervision of a health care professional.

Some of the specific things that should never be done are placing the electrodes over the uterus, and should never be used before the third trimester.

Due to the inherent risks, you should really consider just not using a TENS unit while pregnant.

Use With a Pacemaker

Pacemakers rely on electricity to operate and keep your heart rate at a normal rhythm. Using a TENS unit can interfere with the functionality of your pacemaker and disrupt your heart rate, putting your health at severe risk.

The good news is that modern pacemakers can be adjusted so that they can be used with a TENS unit without problems. However, they have to be calibrated for use with a TENS unit.

You must see your healthcare professional if you have a pacemaker and want to use a TENS unit. They will adjust your pacemaker so that you can get treatment safely and offer additional safety and usage advice as well.

Use On Broken Skin Or an Open Wound

You should never place the electrode pads over broken skin or open wounds. They should only be placed on clean and healthy skin.

Placing the electrode pads over unhealthy skin could cause the condition to worsen and prevent the wound from healing properly.

Before placing the electrodes, wipe your skin down with water or some other type of cleaning solution. This will ensure good connectivity and help prevent skin rashes and potential burns from happening.

It only takes a moment to clean the area of skin under the electrode and will save you a lot of pain and frustration. Not to mention it will help the electrode pads last longer and save you money by being able to reuse them.

***

Side By Side TENS Units Comparison

Pick the TENS Units you want to evaluate and compare specs, ratings, prices