BewellConnect’s MyTens PRO is a mobile and wireless TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) device that has been medically approved and cleared by the FDA. TENS is a widely known technique that provides pain relief or muscle stimulation using mild electrical currents. The typical TENS unit comes with a handheld central control unit, roughly the size of your smartphone, and connects by wires to electrodes. The MyTens, on the other hand, does not come with this central unit. Instead, it is controlled via Bluetooth from a smartphone app that pairs as soon as you activate a session within the app and turn on the device. The four independent hydrogel adhesive electrodes charge via micro-USB, and have a battery life around 8 hours (3.7V/500mAh Li-ion).
There are four main use case groups (Pain Relief, Muscle Stimulation, Relaxation, and Fitness) and 19 pre-set programs: 11 TENS protocols and 8 electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) protocols.
Based on your specific needs, a customized protocol can be selected, and the level of intensity can be chosen on a scale of 0-60 (it starts at 0; no current).
Results from a TENS or EMS protocol will largely depend on the intensity of electrical stimulation, duration of the session, frequency of use, and positioning. For pain relief, pulses are sent that stimulate nerve fibers and block pain signals as they travel to the brain. For normal use, pulses can be used as massages to relax sore and aching muscles. Athletes may choose to use the device for pre-workout warm-ups and post-workout cool-downs. The sessions can also be saved or logged, as well as shared with providers, caregivers, or family members.
We felt that the device was not much different from other TENS devices in terms of function. However, the wireless capability of the device was very convenient, with a range of up to 30 feet away from your smartphone, according to the specs. The ability to place two electrodes and have them run at different intensities was also a nice user customization. It’s worth noting that each setting will feel different on different locations on the body due to the varied innervation (number of nerves) in a particular area; the more nerves in an area, the more sensitive that area may feel during stimulation. With all of the available options, it’s worth trying different protocols to see how they feel.
In terms of cost, the replacement pads are $15 and can be used up to 20 times with proper care, and the one channel MyTens device retails for $149, while the two channel unit retails for $249.
Product page: BewellConnect MyTens PRO…
