TENS: Steps to Relief and Fitness

Normally seen as a tool for rehabilitation, but really is an enhancement tool.

The Pyramid of Luxuries

The Bespoke - $1,000 Grocery Gift Card

The Ultra High End - $100 Lowes Gift Card

The Superpremium - Audible

The Premium Core - TENS

The Accessible Core - TENS: Steps to Relief and Fitness

The Affordable Luxury - December Bespoke Prize

The Everyday Luxury - Previous Winners

The Bespoke

This is the LAST week to submit for November’s Bespoke Photo Contest!

Click on the banner to enter The Bespoke Photo Contest. Click here for the Official Contest Rules.

• Prize: $1,000 Grocery Gift Card [ARV $1,000]

• Odds: For every 130 Ducky Tran premium member by the time of judging, I will give out one (1) Grocery gift card

• Contest Period: October 30, 2024 at 10 AM CST to December 3, 2024 at 10 PM CST

The Ultra High End

Previous Contest Winner

The winner of Issue 53 Ultra High End Contest is GIANINA from IRVING, TEXAS! Here’s her submission for “something that hints at your favorite color”:

Congratulations to GIANINA, you just won something that is also green, a Christmas Tree! Let’s see some other color hint submissions:

For this week, I bring you to one of my favorite places in the world, the hardware store!

This Week’s Contest

Click on the banner to enter The Ultra High End Photo Contest. Click here for the Official Contest Rules.

• Prize: $100 Lowe’s Gift Card [ARV $100]

• Odds: For every 70 Ducky Tran premium members that submit a valid entry, I will give out one (1) gift card

• Contest Period: November 27, 2024 at 10 AM CST to December 3, 2024 at 10 PM CST

Lowe’s is to me, as Target is to my wife. I probably can go here every day, walk around, buy nothing, but still go back the next day to look at the same things again just in hope that somehow the items would magically appear in my cart and I can take it home.

This week, I really wanted to give out a toolset; however, I don’t think there’s a single toolset or tool that everyone would be 100% satisfied, so it was best to let you decide what tool(s) you would get for your home.

I don’t go here too often, like how some people stay away from Vegas. I can’t help but want to spend money even when it makes no sense. I would need to win a Bespoke $1,000 to Lowe’s before I go back. Just kidding, I visited Lowe’s twice last week.

If you’re looking to spruce up your house, get some tools, or window-shop at a hardware store, this is your week!

The Superpremium

This week’s Superpremium topic is Audible. Audible is a podcast and audiobook app that is very affordable and helps you manage your book library. I use it, mostly, to learn languages and business tips. My favorite thing about it is the electronic library that it provides, even without the monthly subscription.

I don’t have the subscription anymore but generally when there’s a sale, I purchase it, cancel the following week, and use the bonus credits on language learning audiobooks.

With our senses continuously stimulated with the advent of the internet, I believe that by isolating just audio without the visual cues and words can be more relaxing. It beats eye-strain and is also hands-free.

I usually need to re-read lines over and over to get it in my memory; however, when I hear it from someone else’s voice, it clicks immediately. The best thing is many audiobooks have many different readers so you can actually pick the voice you want to hear or whatever fits the mood. I’ve changed devices many times and every time I download Audible again, I get my collection of books back. Plus, I have about 30-40 books, and it probably only cost me $100 total. That’s value-added!

You can use it while cooking, driving, lounging, exercising, and even on the toilet. It is just too convenient, and learning new skills or being able to engulf yourself into a story for a few bucks cannot be beaten.

The Premium Core

I’m not doing any deals this week because of Black Friday sales, which can be time-limited. However, let me point out to the TENS unit I purchased, which is much cheaper than when I bought it.

I bought this TENS unit last month for $60, now it’s going for $45 for Black Friday. More information about how to use the TENS unit in The Accessible Core, but this a great deal on a unit like this.

CAUTION: Like many products on Amazon, there are going to be 100 more like them in varying prices and quality. I cannot vouch for any; however, the purpose of the tool is the same and that’s the purpose is what I can stand by. And yes, you get what you pay for, so don’t expect 10-years of durability and excellent customer service.

Like most retail TENS units, this unit is portable, has a carrying case, and is intuitive to use. Here are a few tips if you plan to use a TENS unit:

• The sticky pads need full contact; otherwise, they are not effective.

• Cleaning, storing and applying electrode gel will extend the life of the pads.

• In most cases, a gallon Ziplop bag is a better storage bag than the original carrying cases, also makes it easy to find the items you need.

• You don’t need to be a professional, just read the directions.

• MOST IMPORTANTLY, read the warnings and don’t use it if you are on the list of “DO NOT USE if you have these things” list.

The Accessible Core

TENS: Steps to Relief and Fitness

I’ve had my fair share of accidents and injuries; some of which left chronic pains and lasting scars. Nearly all rehab and therapy for these injuries resulted in me using a TENS or EMS unit over a course of a few weeks/months for recovery and strengthening. For simplicity, TENS and EMS are the same kind of unit and is named differently based on their usage. TENS for pain relief and EMS for muscle strengthening. So, I’ll be writing TENS, but you can assume either/or.

TENS unit have been researched and utilized for therapeutic uses for decades; however, very little have been done to place it into households through medical insight or documents. Behind the guise of “dangerous shocky-thingy”, I believe this is another case of ailments pay more than good health. Other than the obvious dangers of using it when you have a heart condition or on your throat, its electrical dangers can be limited through hardware and software, which they normally are. It is less dangerous than the many outlets we have in our homes; however, because the $40-$60 device can reduce the billions spent to millions spent on pain relief and injuries, it isn’t being lauded as it should be.

Here are some real life uses for a TENS unit:

• Like the sensation of touch, TENS stimulation in areas of inflammation or pain, like arthritis, actually changes the release of neurotransmitters and hormones that help with pain relief. This has an immediate response unlike many oral drugs with little to no side effects like the drugs would have.

• After an injury, TENS stimulation on areas of torn muscle can help earlier repair as well as pain relief while getting the area back to normal.

• Diastasis recti, a condition where the abdominal muscle is split due to multiple pregnancies. This split makes it difficult to work out these muscles without exaggerating the condition; however, in conjunction with a TENS unit, elastic belt, and light exercise have shown to result in a quicker recovery from this condition.

• Back and shoulder pains is a double-edge sword, often caused by poor posture. Poor posture can induce the pains, the pains will make it so you don’t want to go back to normal posture, which in turn exacerbates the condition. With TENS stimulation, the pain can be relieved earlier and often to make sure the proper posture can be attained before it gets worse.

• TENS stimulation while actively exercising has shown an increased in muscle mass and strength in a shorter period of time.

• TENS stimulation has shown to improve recovery in muscle and joints by inducing chemical changes in your body. Combined with exercising with TENS, you could spend less time exercising and recovery; or achieve greater results in less time.

As you can see, the real-life benefits are massive. Like how we are okay with outlets all over our houses, the TENS unit should be a normal tool in a normal healthy person’s arsenal of fitness equipment. I am on a journey to see if the TENS unit can help with my chronic pains and get stronger. Expect an update in the future. For now, let’s not let commercial gains take away from our relief and healthier life.

The Affordable Luxury

Issue 53 Community Poll Results

Here’s results from last week’s poll:

1. It was 50/50 on those that do use fitness supplements and those that don’t.

2. No one uses specialized equipment for fitness, but you may want to consider a TENS unit for recovery or muscle building.

3. TRIVIA Question: What is the “T” in TENS, when referring to therapy? Answer: Transcutaneous. Only 50% got it correct.

This Week’s Community Poll

Here are this week’s poll questions:

The Everyday Luxury

Check out what one of our winners bought with the gift card they won!

Here’s another member showing off their prizes and gifts.

(The referral program is only viewable on the email version of the newsletter.)

Visit shop.duckytran.com with the weekly password: tens