For some, electrotherapy may feel like the final frontier in recovery and pain treatment. Introducing electronic currents into our bodies to trigger healing and fight inflammation can seem invasive, but thanks to HiDow, it’s just the opposite. In order for high quality treatment, a high quality product is crucial. The HiDow Pro Touch Wireless 6-12 TENS and EMS kit offers that from the comfort of your home rather than at a clinic.
As a tennis player, I am used to lots of sprinting, hyper-extension and muscle movements that rarely agree with my body. Not to mention tendonitis and the dreaded “tennis elbow” (lateral epicondylitis) caused by the repetitive motions required in the game. Usually I power through on adrenaline, only to arrive home and realize it will affect my daily activities. By that point, I already need treatment and that’s where the HiDow Pro Touch Wireless 6-12 really comes in clutch.
Managing pain and promoting tissue healing is paramount for electrotherapy. The HiDow Pro Touch Wireless 6-12 is a sleek, portable electrical muscle and nerve stimulator that allows you to take pain relief and muscle performance into your own hands. A pulse generator that sends electrical impulses from a touch screen remote control to a receiver with electrodes attached to them. It sounds high-tech for sure, but they have made it quite simple to use.
Since it’s my job to cover anything and everything related to science and innovation, I’ll break down exactly what that means: TENS is Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation that sends electrical impulses to nerves, while EMS is Electrical Muscle Stimulation that stimulates muscle contractions for both strengthening and recovery.
The Pro Touch 6-12 offers a versatile, high-quality device at an incredible price with its powerful multi-zone treatment areas controlled by a light-weight touch-screen controller that is smaller than a cell phone. This remote controls the intensity and mode functions via bluetooth on the receiver, which is physically connected to electrode pads that attach easily and firmly to the skin.
The entire kit retails for $999 and includes: one remote control; two receivers (numbered 1 and 2); two pieces of lower back sized adhesive electrode pads (rectangular); one set of extra-large adhesive electrode pad (rectangular); two sets of large adhesive electrode pads (round); two electrode wires; plus cables, adapters, and manual.
The remote and receivers should arrive synced up, but if not, the process for syncing them is a breeze. Turn all receivers on while the remote is powered off. Power the remote up, then quickly double-click the power button twice. The Channel Button should be flashing at the top of the screen. Pick up the receiver, quickly double-click the power button, and watch the channel shift on the screen. At that point, you are synced up!
The pads are connected to the receiver by a pair of electrode wires. The receiver must be connected to either two pins or two electrode wires in order to work, so either one large pad or two smaller pads depending on where on your body you are targeting. Also, it is best to study where to place them for maximum efficacy.
Most recently, I suffered a minor hamstring injury as a result of excess knee bending and hip extensions during a tournament. Fortunately, the HiDow Pro Touch 6-12 made it easy to address. Using the various mode functions it allows, I explored the numerous modes and took control of my recovery. The TENS functions help directly with pain relief, while the EMS functions address muscle stimulation. I did three sessions, once per day, lasting around 45 minutes to an hour. Suffice to say, I noticed the results.
The term “intensity” rings true for this instrument. I have experience with e-stim treatment in the past and find it quite favorable, but I could barely reach level 4 on any mode. Majority of the modes I had to keep it at level 3, and some only level 2. Note: the levels peak at 20! Quite impressive I must say, though I can’t imagine getting up that high. This thing clearly does its job and then some. I highly recommend this product to anyone intent on leveling up their muscle recovery routine.
