Last time I discussed what modes on a TENS Unit are and today we’re going to continue our discussion on choosing the right one. First we’ll talk about channels. You’ll notice models have either single, dual, or quad channels. Essentially it means how many different sites (parts of your body) you can apply the electrodes to. You can apply a TENS electrode stimulation to one area per channel. The more channels, the more places you can enjoy relief. A dual channel will have four electrodes for two locations and a quad can have eight electrodes for four locations.

You don’t have to use all the electrodes at once but having more channels is a good feature for those with pain in multiple areas of the body. Other features to consider are battery operation. Does the machine used standard batteries or can it be recharged? The wider the range for frequency and pulse width, the more control you have over the amount of stimulation sent to the area to relieve pain.

Naturally the more bells and whistles on the machine, the higher the cost. You want a variety of features available, but it doesn’t mean you need the biggest machine. Consider your amount of pain to determine whether or not you need maximum channels, modes, and other features to give you relief.