TensCare iTouch Tone Instructions For Use Manual

TensCare Ltd, 9 Blenheim Road,
Longmead Business Park,
Epsom, Surrey KT19 9BE, UK
Tel [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
www.tenscare.co.uk

Multi Purpose EMS and TENS

Instructions for Use

Distributed by:

tone

MUSCLE STIMULATOR/TENS

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Contents

Section Page

1 Introduction 1

2 Special Features 1

3 How EMS works 3

4 How TENS works 5

5 The Programmes 6

6 Choosing the right strength 7

7 Programme Information 8

8 Programme Settings 11

9 Controls and Screen Information 12

10 Installation of Batteries 19

11 Connecting Mono Lead wire 20

12 Positioning of Electrode Pads 22

13 General Pad Advice 23

14 Pad Alarm 24

15 The Belt Cradle 24

16 Troubleshooting 24

17 Caution and Warnings 25

18 Cleaning 27

19 Consumables and servicing 27

20 Guarantee 28

21 WEEE 28

22 Technical Specifications 29

23 Electrode Placement 31

tone

INTELLIGENT EMS

PACK CONTENTS

•

“itouch tone” Pain Relief unit

•

Mono Lead wire

•

Belt Cradle

•

Pack of 4, 50x50mm, superior self-adhesive electrode pads

(item code: E-CM5050)

•

AA 1.5v (Type LR6) batteries (2)

•

Instruction Manual

•

Storage Pouch

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1. INTRODUCTION

The “itouch tone” is a multi-purpose combination unit that offers the

latest in electro muscle stimulation and TENS. It is the result of

considerable research and represents a new generation in such units.

2. “itouch tone” FEATURES:

• Large selection of muscle stimulation and TENS programmes

The “itouch tone” is supplied with 8 preset muscle stimulation

programmes, which can be used for muscle training, well being,

massage and beauty. It also has 2 programmes which can have all their

parameters - such as frequency, pulse width, ramp up and down, work

and rest time - set and saved to your personal needs. There are a further

3 TENS programmes for pain relief, which can be set and saved to suit

your personal needs.

• Comfortable Strength Control

Each step in strength is very small thereby maximising the comfort level.

• One Touch Memory Start

The “itouch tone” has intelligent memory allowing it to remember the

last programme and strength that was used. On start up, at the touch of

only ONE button, the “itouch tone” will automatically return to the last

programme used and to around 50% of the strength. The strength

gently “ramps” up to this level. The strength can be stopped at any time

by pressing any button. The 50% level takes into account

accommodation that the body may have experienced.

•

Pad Alarm

Perfect pad contact and condition is important to obtain maximum

benefit. To ensure best performance the “itouch tone” has been fitted

with a “Pad Alarm” that shows you if the contact of any of the four

pads to your body is lost. This eliminates any unknown break in

contact which could interrupt the benefit being obtained from the unit.

•

Mono Lead Wire

To ease set up and use, a new unique mono lead wire has

been developed.

•

Usage Diary

The “itouch tone” has a built in usage diary which enables you to

monitor your use of the unit. It records and saves the total time that

the unit has been used while connected to the body. This gives “true”

information which can be of great help to you and your physician.

•

Backlit LCD screen

Whenever a button is pressed the screen will light up making the

screen easy to read and very clear.

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3. E.M.S. What it is and how it works

EMS stands for Electrical Muscle Stimulation.

3.1 EMS successfully rebuilds and tones muscles.

Different levels of muscle contraction are achieved by sending

electrical impulses of various types, depending on the programme

selected, into the body. These muscle contractions retrain the muscles,

increase their effectiveness and improve their condition. This is

beneficial where muscles - for whatever reason - have not been in

regular use and have lost condition (muscle atrophy). For sports, the

benefit is to increase the effect of training and enhance performance.

3.2 Muscle wastage:

EMS is used in the treatment of:

Neuromuscular facilitation - Muscle reeducation - Muscle training -

Prevention/slowing of atrophy/hypotrophy - Preventing postoperative

muscle weakness - Reduction of spasticity - Maintaining or increasing

range of motion - Training of partial peripheral nerve damage with

signs of reinnervation - Treatment of scoliosis - Incontinence treatment

Sports:

EMS is used in:

sports training, covering - warm-up, strength, speed, power,

resistance, endurance and recovery and also for rehabilitation in

relation to sports injury.

EMS works as an excellent complement to regular training.

3.4 Mode of operation

EMS uses external electrical impulses that act through the skin to

stimulate the nerves supplying a specific muscle group. The muscle

reacts in different ways depending on the strength of current and

duration and frequency of the electrical impulse.

Muscles are made up of two different types of fibre:

- Red fibre is slower contracting and aerobic working.

- White fibre is faster acting and capable of anaerobic working.

The proportions of red and white fibres depend on the way the muscle

is used. Fibre can be converted from one type to the other, depending

on the signals it receives. This is known as the Trophic effect. Different

frequencies have different effects: Low (1-10 Hz) frequencies coupled

with long impulse times have a purifying and relaxing effect through

individual contractions, whereby the circulation in the treated muscle

is simultaneously improved and removal of metabolic end products is

supported (lymphatic drainage). The oxygen supply to the muscle is

improved. In contrast, medium (20-50 Hz) frequencies can put a high

level of strain on the muscle, thus promoting the muscular structure.

Very high frequencies (60-90 Hz) can be used to promote muscle

definition and bulk. The body maps at the back of this guide show pad

positioning in order to stimulate specific muscle groups.

3.5 Treatment time and treatment interval

Treatment by EMS can vary between 15-60 minutes stimulation twice a

week to treatment several times per day.

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4. HOW “TENS” WORKS

TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. TENS

stimulates your body's own natural defences against pain, namely the

release of endorphins. TENS is totally safe, has been used successfully by

thousands of pain sufferers.

TENS sends a gentle stimulation through the skin which works in

TWO ways:-

Pain Gate

Stimulating the sensory nerves, which carry touch and temperature signals.

These nerves go to the same connections in the spine as the nerves

carrying pain. A strong sensory signal will block the pain signal travelling

up the spine to the brain. This is known as closing the “Pain Gate” and

takes effect quite quickly after the unit is switched on. You can use TENS

several times a day, for as long as you like.

Endorphin Release

At low frequency settings, and slightly stronger output, TENS drives the

motor nerves to produce a small repetitive muscle contraction. This is seen

by the brain as exercise, and this promotes release of Endorphins - your

body's own natural pain killer. The relief builds up and normally takes

about 40 minutes to reach a maximum level which can last for hours after

the machine is switched off.

By using TENS you can expect to achieve a significant reduction in pain if

not complete pain relief.

SIDE EFFECTS

There are no known side effects to TENS use and long-term TENS use is

not harmful.

POSITIONING THE ELECTRODES FOR TENS

Electrodes are usually first placed where the greatest pain is felt. Try

different positions until you find the best for you. Try moving the electrodes

short distances to establish the positions that are most effective for you.

5. THE PROGRAMMES

The unit has 8 pre-set EMS programmes A,B,C,D,E, F, G and H
2 Manually selectable programmes M and N
3 Manually selectable TENS programmes. S, T, and W

The choice of programme depends on the results you wish to achieve.
Each programme has a different feel and a pre-set default duration.

Programmes may be locked by your physician:
If this has happened, a message:- LOC M (or N, S, T or W) will appear on
the display if you attempt to change programmes.

PROGRAM OUTPUT SENSATIONS

Programmes A to H produce a combination of tingling or pulsing/ tapping
sensations associated with muscle contractions. In EMS a period of muscle
contraction (Work) is alternated with a period of rest.

Programmes S , T and W are TENS programmes.

In programmes S and W, the output is Continuous. Strength should be set
so that there is a strong tingling feeling WITHOUT muscle contraction.
Programmme S can be used until the pain relief effect starts to wear off ­up to 2 hours.

In programme T the stimulus is delivered in bursts, i.e. a group of pulses
rather than a single pulse. You should set strength so that muscle
contractions just start to appear, and use for not more than 60 mins.

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6. CHOOSING THE RIGHT STRENGTH

The object of EMS treatment is to produce powerful muscle contractions.

The strength of the current should be increased to about three times the

level at which you can first feel the tingling, or to as high as you can

stand without causing pain.

You will probably feel that electrical contraction is being more powerful

than a voluntary contraction, because the current also stimulates your

sensory nerves. The signals have a pain-relieving effect.

You may find the sensation uncomfortable to start with, so that you may

not get up to therapeutic strength at the start of treatment. The strength

can be increased during the course of the treatment, as you become

accustomed to the sensation.

Voluntary muscular activity is more effective than stimulation, and it may

improve progress if you combine voluntary contraction with stimulation.

The powerful muscle contractions caused by electrical stimulation give rise

to training aches, which usually disappear within a week.

After treatment tingling sensations may continue or your skin may feel

numb, this is normal.

7. PROGRAMME INFORMATION

• Frequency (measured in Hz - pulses per second)

EMS 1-110Hz.

See section 4 How EMS works.

TENS 1-150Hz

A frequency of 110 Hz is good at blocking pain signals.

A low frequency of 4 or 10 Hz allows for the release of endorphins, the

body's natural morphine-like substances. 1-110.

• Pulse Width (measured in μS - millionths of a second)

EMS 50-300 μS depending on Frequency*

TENS 50 to 250 μS.

A higher Pulse Width is more likely to activate muscles.

Larger muscles need higher Pulse Width.

• WORK is the time in seconds that muscle is stimulated (not including

Ramp time). The “Tone” offers a range of work periods from 1-40 sec.

• REST is the time in seconds at zero strength in between stimulation.

The “Tone” offers a range of rest periods from 1-40 sec.

• RAMP is the time in seconds taken to move up and down between zero

and the set stimulation strength .The “Tone” offers a range of ramp

times from 1 -5sec in steps of 1 sec. Up time = Down time.

• Synchronous / Alternating ( SYN/ALT ) In Alternating mode output

from Ch2 is delayed. Set CH2 Delay Time 0 to 40 seconds in steps

of 1 second.

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