E-Stim, Electrotherapy, TENS?

Our college had/has an E Stim. We used it all the time. You wet the pads and put them on the sore muscle and turn it on. It makes it flex slightly and at different rates. It was great. I don't think that there would be a problem with owning one. There used to be a product out that did the same thing (I think it did the same thing) but you put it on your abs and it was surposed to be a workout with out doing anything.

I have used electro stim countless times through college and now. It helps stimulate the muscles and open them up to increased blood flow to improve healing.

I have used it on a badly sprained ankle, knee that I had ACL surgery, and most recently on sore back muscles.

I also used ultra sound to heat up the areas before therepy and rehab.

I was given a small portable electro stim machine to use at home for a few weeks. no big deal.

I bought a small portable electro-stim to use when I had a slipped rib last year. It was the kind of thing where I was so desperate, I was willing to shell out $100 even though I know there is a 90% chance it is ineffective. I still use it on aches and pains and they seem to improve, but who knows if the stim is really the key. I read a physical threapy book on E-stim and it said for increasing circulation to set hte pulse rate very low (so your muscles don't contract too much) but turn the voltage up until it gets uncomfortable. The only peer reviewed studies involve using high pulse rates to actually contract a muscle to fight atrophy.

Ultrasound, however, is supported by some peer reviewed research.

So what's the difference between electrical stem, tens, etc. I'm confused like the original poster.