Electrical stimulation could be the answer to fighting period pain without having to rely on drugs, experts say, and the relief is ‘instant’.
Up to 95 per cent of all women will experience period pain during their reproductive years, many of those will experience ‘crippling pain’ at some point.
Extreme pain is even more common for women with endometriosis, fibroids or ovarian cysts and can have a huge impact on their quality of life.Â
Electrical stimulation could be the answer to fighting period pain without having to rely on drugs, experts say, and the relief is instant
The device is portable and discreet which means women can wear it wherever they go
Therabody, the wellness brand known for developing the first at-home massage gun, has now welcomed the PowerDot (from $289) to their brand’s portfolio.
The PowerDot is a portable TENS machine which can be used to banish period pain instantly using an electrical current to stimulate the sensory nerves.
This suppresses the pain signals that are being sent to the brain to provide temporary relief which can last for up to four hours after each treatment.
Nicole Strock, PhD, MS, Senior Women’s Health and Wellness Advisor to Therabody considers the PowerDot a pet program and has been working on the technology since before the brands became one.
Dr Strock told FEMAIL women who use the device for 20-30 minutes could expect to have five hours of relief from pain but every body is different.
Some customers wear the device all day, running one program after another, to insure they are never experiencing the discomfort of cramping.
‘Menstrual pain can vary from person to person. The PowerDot Period Pain Relief Program is unique because users can customise their experience based on their pain level, location of pain, and schedule,’ she said.
‘This can be achieved through multiple pad configuration options that can be used on either the lower abdomen or lower back.’
She says there is ‘no ideal’ time to use the machine other than when you begin to feel your symptoms.Â
‘Most of us will experience cramping and discomfort in the days leading up to our period (as a symptom of PMS) and during the first several days of the period,’ she said.
‘Personally, day one of my period is when I experience the worst pain and it will gradually subside over the next couple days,’ she said.
The PowerDot is a small machine which connect to cords and pads you stick directly onto your skin for instant pain relief
She says she tracks her cycle and has her device handy in the days leading up to it so she can put it on when she needs to.
‘It’s discreet enough to be worn under clothes,’ she said, because it is wireless and cordless.
It is also ‘foolproof’ according to the expert who explained the programs are activated and tracked using an app on your phone.
This app also tells users where and how to place the device for the best results.Â
‘We take the guesswork out of electrical stimulation and ensure the settings are supported by the scientific literature and principles of electrical stimulation,’ she said.Â
The machine is controlled using your mobile phone and can be used on your front or back
The machine can also be used for the small percentage of women who experience ovulation cramps.
And it comes with programs to help relief pain throughout the body including neck pain and backpain.
It can also be used on various parts of your body for massage, recovery, pain, and performance, she explained.
The machine can be used in conjunction with drugs like Ibuprofen, especially at night before bed time as it is not recommended to use the machine while sleeping.Â
TENS machines can be used for up to 96hours straight without causing injury.
It is recommended that women don’t use them on their lower abdomen or back if they think they might be pregnant as there ‘isn’t enough data’ to know the impact.
Therabody’s PowerDot is available on their website from $289 for the single unit. The PowerDot DUO which is pictured is $499 for the device or comes in a starter’s bundle for $609 which includes the electrical pads.
