A national survey of more than 1,000 consumers conducted by BewellConnect, found that electrostimulation therapy benefits an overwhelming majority of Americans who sought a drug-free alternative to treat pain.
The BewellConnect survey showed that among the 60% of Americans who sought treatments for back pain, bad knees, and a host of other injuries, nearly 47% received some type of electrostimulation treatment – such as Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) or Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) – to manage pain and recovery.
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The most surprising finding was that of those who received electrostimulation treatments, an overwhelming majority (nearly 90%) said the treatments helped them recover.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a method of pain relief which involves using a mild electrical current to block pain signals from the brain. TENS wearable is a small, battery-operated device that has leads connected to sticky pads called electrodes.
Electric Muscle Stimulation (EMS) is the process of causing muscle contractions using an external electrical charge or pulse usually created by an EMS device. It is typically used for muscle rebuilding and repair. This method is different from TENS as it makes the muscle contract.
While these devices have traditionally been used by physical therapists and healthcare providers, advancement in technology is now making them widely available to consumers for at-home use. Patients seeking pain relief are getting more freedom to move from a new generation of electrostimulation devices, thanks to the built-in wireless communications and intelligences for use with smartphone apps.
“People want to play a greater role in their own pain management with drug-free alternatives. Advances in mobile-connected health technologies are making it possible,” said Olivier Hua, CEO of BewellConnect.
This technology is gaining popularity as people are now more aware of pain medication addiction. When asked why they would consider purchasing an electrostimulation device, the second most cited reason across all demographics (27 percent) was reducing the need for painkillers and it was the number one reason among women (32 percent).
Similarly, affordability and the ability to practice self-care were major drivers of consumer adoption. Nearly 35 percent of respondents said that reducing visits to a healthcare provider would be their main motivation for getting such a device.
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“This study shows that, given the option, most patients would welcome the opportunity to manage their own pain relief and muscle stimulation with electrostimulation therapies,” Hua said.
About BewellConnect
BewellConnect is a connected health company that is moving the industry to a new frontier of healthcare. Digital health devices often remain siloed, cumbersome to use, and do not provide clear, actionable paths to better health. BewellConnect has set out to solve these challenges – not through the manufacturing of devices, but with a suite of healthcare services of which FDA-approved products are a component. The connected health devices are used to monitor patient progress and send the information back to the physician, resulting in patients who are more educated and empowered to take an active role in their healthcare.
