tens/ems machine

[dyl]

Hi,

Just wondered if anyone has used a tens machine or EMS machine I am looking to buy one but cant find one.

Could u let me know where I could get one from

Thanks

 

[gothdolly]

I have a TENS machine, I bought it from Boots (the chemist). But its for humans, not horses. (it was bought for use in labour). I never thought of using it on my horses.... do you know where to place electrodes etc?

 

[LEC]

You can use them on horses but I have looked into the effectiveness on horses and I can find no good reason as horses have a different response to pain than humans. It is incorrect to believe they will build up muscle. Effectively what TENS machines do is to desensitise the nerves so that pain messages do not get sent. Personally in a horse if they are in pain I prefer to know why as there is always a reason rather than trying to mask it with a TENS machine.

The only way I could see them being a benefit on horses is for a horse who is cold backed but even then I would want to know I had gone as far as I could with getting that checked out by a vet.

 

[purplekt1972]

my horse has had amazing results on back muscles in spasm and so tight due to kissing spines, i use a human tens machine with 2 ports so i can do both sides of his back. It is important to get a good contact by wetting the hair and then using lots of conductive gel. i have shaved the hair where i use mine as he was shaved at the vets for ultra sound anyway. Is imprtant that you turn the machine to where you can see themuscles twiching and then turn it down. It does not need to twitch to be working. My boy has 40 mins 3 times a week, was every day i would highly reccommend it, my physio showed me how and has lent me hers. The vets are wuite amazed at the improvement in 8 weeks


good luck

 

[dyl]

your machine sound good. could you tell me the name please and where you got it from

x

 

[purplekt1972]

have borrowed it off my horses physio, will look at the name tomorrow and post on here

 

[LEC]

Often with kissing spines your horse will have developed lots of other issues hence why the muscles would have been in spasm. By using a TENS machine you were not solving the muscle spasms instead you were desensitising the nerves in the muscles. the issues that made the back spasm will still be there.

I have been round and round in circles with physios and TENS machines.

 

[purplekt1972]

The vet and physio did mention about this desensitiation but the treatment has enabled the physio to be more hands on with his back well to actually touch it! and hopefully help the root of the muscle spasms. When his back was blocked there was not much of an improvement seen on riding so the main pain he had...according to the vet....was muscular and although the xray shows kissing spines of T1-L15 they are secondary to his other issues at present. What did you have to use tens for?

 

[dyl]

My horse has a sore back and one of my friends has recommended a tens so just wondering where I could buy one and what name of one is etc

 

[purplekt1972]

Amazon is a good a place as any, need conductive gel too and two ports ie 4 electrodes if treating back, might be best to get a physio out to show you how and where to place them then at least you will know for sure. Look on the ACPAT website for a registered one close to you

 

[purplekt1972]

tens machine on

 

[LEC]

If you have a sore back why not get a chiro or physio out? Rather than trying a machine that will not solve anything? Most back problems are due to other issues such as hocks. If chiro or physio cannot get it right in 3 treatments you should have a vet out.

TENS machines are actually my BIGGEST horse bugbear at the moment as people are so uneducated about them. They are not just cheap massage systems as most people think.