10 Best Muscle Stimulators (Review) In 2019

How We Chose Our Selection of the Best Muscle Stimulators

Price - The portable muscle stimulators profiled above aren’t going to break anyone’s bank. Unlike the more involved devices you’ll find in the doctor’s or therapist’s office these pocket-sized devices can be picked up for less than the price of a decent polo shirt. So price played little part in determining which electrical muscle stimulation machines made our list.

Brand - Can you name a brand of EMS device? Before we began this review we couldn’t either. That is not a knock on any of the companies that produce this type of equipment, just an acknowledgment that they’re still largely niche devices. Though they may well break through to the mainstream at some point. So we didn’t put a lot of stock in brand names. Instead, we focused on build quality, available options and performance.

Reviews - Because only a couple of us had any experience with this type of equipment we were basically starting from scratch. As such we had to reach out to doctors and physical therapists for their input. We also spent many hours scouring the digital domain reading both user and 3rd party professional reviews to see if there was anything about the devices we chose that we might have overlooked.

At the end of the day, however, we always draw our own conclusions based on our experience with the product and augmented by input from those best qualified to provide input.

Features To Look For In Muscle Stimulators

Battery life - The average life of a battery for an EMS device is around 10 hours. But be advised that the actual amount of time you get out of a charge will depend on the level of electrical stimulation, whether or not your device has an auto shutoff feature and, of course, the quality of the battery itself. Since not all muscle stimulators come with high-quality lithium-ion batteries.

The number of electrodes supported - Most of the best muscle stimulators have 2-4 electrodes typically attached to the unit with 2 cords. Those units with 4 electrode pads usually have cords that split part way down which allows for 2 electrodes at the end of each. In rare cases like our Best Choice the HealthmateForever you’ll get 8 electrodes, each with their own cord. Be aware that some physical therapists think having so many electrodes all firing at once is overkill. Although there are others who state with equal authority that even a large number of electrodes firing simultaneously won’t produce any negative results.

Programs and strength options - We love options. They’re what the 21st century is all about. You have more choices for more things than ever before and why shouldn’t that ethos extend to the muscle stimulator machine as well? The best muscle stimulators offer a range of performance options including various types of electronic “massage” and pulses intended to do everything from relax you after an intense workout to help you recover after a traumatic injury. One thing this type of device won’t do is create muscle mass.

Muscle Stimulator FAQ

Q: What is EMS?

A: EMS stands for “electrical muscle stimulation”. EMS has received quite a bit of media attention in recent years for being an effective way to help people who have suffered from traumatic injuries regain use of the impaired limbs and as a way for athletes and others to warm up prior to working out. It has also found use as a way to help soothe sore aching muscles in the aftermath of a vigorous workout and as a general aid in training. While EMS may well help people warm up more effectively so they can optimize their workout efforts EMS machines by themselves won’t create muscle mass. In the US EMS machines are regulated by the FDA.

Q: Does electrical muscle stimulation work?

A: EMS is effective in helping people recover from injuries and surgery, in helping them warm up prior to their workout, in helping people relax and in treating sore aching muscles in the aftermath of a strenuous workout. Many people also use the electrical muscle stimulation machine to help relieve pain and others as a way to help burn fat. Muscle stimulation can also help in the repair and recovery of joints that have been injured while playing sports. And EMS is being used to help those suffering from impaired movement (such as stroke victims) prevent muscle atrophy and regain movement, if only on a limited scale.

Q: Can muscle stimulators help grow muscles?

Q: By themselves, muscle stimulation machines cannot grow muscles. Why? Because muscle growth requires you stress the muscle to the point that the muscle fibers actually tear. The body then moves in and replaces this torn muscle tissue with larger, stronger tissue. This tearing of the muscle is at least in part a result of working the muscle through the entire range of motion. Something an EMS machine simply can’t do. Electric muscle stimulation machines can, however, help you warm up more effectively and this, in theory, should enable you to get more from your workouts. Which of course means larger, stronger muscles.

Q: How long does TENS treatment last?

A: TENS is a kind of therapeutic treatment, rather than a way to enhance workouts (although there are those who have adapted it for that purpose). Therefore how long you experience benefits from a particular treatment will depend almost entirely on how aggressively you apply the TENS to the affected area and, of course, the nature of the affliction you are treating. That said, instances where TENS equipment actually resulted in damage from “overuse” are rare. So if you need to use the device several times a day there should be nothing stopping you from doing so.

Q: Is TENS treatment safe?

A: As we mentioned, it’s unusual for TENS to result in actual physical damage, even when it is applied repeatedly over the course of the day and during any number of days in a row. However, there are some individuals who should not engage in this, or any type, of electrical stimulation without first consulting with their doctor, including:

People with a pacemaker - It is likely that any type of electric therapy device will present problems for people with pacemakers. While there are some pacemakers on the market today that are not affected by such devices they are still relatively small in number. Therefore, you should never use this or any EMS device if you have a pacemaker unless specifically cleared to do so by your doctor.

Pregnant women - While the TENS device itself should present no threat whatsoever to the health of the pregnant woman there has not been sufficient scientific study conducted to be able to state with confidence that it poses no threat to the developing fetus. Therefore, the safe route is the right route and pregnant women should not use any type of EMS device.

Those with epilepsy - Epilepsy is a neurological condition related to the way electrical impulses are processed by the brain. Therefore, many doctors believe it is theoretically possible that engaging in electrical muscle stimulation could somehow initiate an epileptic seizure. It should be emphasized that there is at this time, no conclusive evidence that this would occur. But neither is there conclusive evidence that it would not.

Lymphedema - Lymphedema is the result of a compromised lymphatic system and results in localized fluid retention in those affected. It’s thought that TENS treatment may aggravate lymphedema and perhaps result in ever greater amounts of fluid retention. Therefore those with lymphedema are advised to avoid electrical muscle stimulation machines.