Most people do not know exactly what a medical device designed for home use is. Let alone which one, what it is for and how to use it. Because of this, many people are “misinformed”. They buy a device and then expect an effect that the device cannot provide. They want to treat symptoms of a disease for which it is unsuitable. Let’s start from the bottom!
Officially defined, a home medical device is a tool that can be used by the patient without the presence of a doctor or health professional. It helps to maintain, repair and even cure temporary or permanent health problems or disabilities.
To put it simply, they are actually “tools” with which you can “fix”, “adjust”, “fine-tune” various “malfunctions” or conditions of your body. Each medical device is designed for a different use, i.e. to treat a different complaint, symptom or condition.
An everyday example to illustrate the point
Knife, spoon and fork – all cutlery. You can get small and big. For picking, meat, fish, cakes, desserts, and sauces. A fork is no substitute for a spoon, just as a spoon is no substitute for a fork. You can’t eat soup with a knife, nor can you cut meat with a spoon. For a multi-course meal, you’ll be serving several types of cutlery. Each utensil has a different function, but each one has its own ability to get everything into your mouth and keep you full. If you only have a spoon for a meal, you can easily eat soup, and scoop in a main course, but chopping up a roast is no longer an option. If you have a knife and fork next to your spoon, you can eat your lunch faster and more efficiently.
Let’s apply this to medical devices
One eases pain, the other doesn’t. One is a good anti-inflammatory, one is a moderate anti-inflammatory, and one is not at all. One stimulates wound healing, the other does not.
Some medical devices help you heal in different ways. You can use them individually, but multiple tools can work together to enhance and speed up your healing.
For example, if your back hurts from sitting too much, a TENS machine will reduce the pain but has no healing effect, so your pain will return. If you use a muscle stimulator to strengthen your back muscles, the pain will go away over time and never return. This happens because you have eliminated the cause of the pain, which is the weakness in your spinal muscles. so eventually your pain will be permanently gone. You get even better results when you combine TENS and EMS treatments. TENS quickly reduces your pain, while the muscle stimulator eliminates the cause of the pain.
In my blog, I’ll tell you what you can expect from these devices, how to use them, and which other methods you can combine to enhance their effects. This can vary from symptom to symptom, from disease to disease. In fact! What worked for your neighbour -for a similar complaint- may not work for you.
Before you buy a home medical device, do your research! First of all, you need to know whether the device you choose is really suitable for what you want to use it for. For example, if you expect TENS to have an anti-inflammatory effect, it’s like trying to cut up a roast with a dessert spoon.
What the medical device can be used for
The home medical device is not a replacement for the hospital, but a way to continue at home a few days of treatment started in the hospital, to complete the recovery.
Technology is advancing so fast that today’s home medical devices are more effective than hospital devices were even 10-15 years ago. Their safe and simple use allows you to apply them to your healing without the presence of a doctor.
In addition to treating illnesses, modern devices can also be used to prevent illnesses and maintain health. By using them regularly, you can improve your quality of life.
- They help prevent diseases.
- They help in the early detection of certain diseases.
- Allow monitoring of existing diseases, conditions and the effects of treatment.
- Help treat, improve or at least prevent certain diseases or conditions from getting worse.
Some groups of home medical devices are not exhaustive
TENS device
Provides effective and long-lasting pain relief using electrical pulses. Most effective for musculoskeletal pain. Compared to medication, TENS treatment has the advantage of having no side effects, while the pain relief effect can last from a few hours to a day. However, it does not have a curative effect, i.e. it does not cure the disease causing the pain.
Microcurrent electrical stimulation (MENS) device
Microcurrent is a more effective pain relief method than TENS. Recent studies have shown that around 90% of people receiving microcurrent treatment reported relief of pain after 10 treatments.
Its main advantage is that while TENS does not cure the disease itself, it only relieves pain, microcurrent treatment is also curative! More on that here. The microcurrent restores the altered electrical potential of the diseased cell membrane, stimulates ATP production and protein synthesis, and regenerates the cell – very effective healing.
You can use microcurrent to treat inflammation, injury, tears, pulling, abrasions, scars, ulcers, oedema and many other conditions.
Muscle Stimulator (EMS)
Can be used for muscle and joint pain. You can use it to treat muscle atrophy and muscle weakness. You can improve joint stability and thus reduce joint pain.
It is an essential tool for rehabilitation in case of paralysis caused by stroke, accident or infection!
For athletes, it is also excellent for supplementing training as well as improving muscle recovery.
Iontophoresis unit
It helps you deliver active ingredients topically to the skin and joints. Commonly used to treat sports injuries, and joint pain and to enhance the effects of cosmetic products.
It is excellent for the treatment of palms, soles and armpits sweating that do not respond to other treatments.
Therapeutic ultrasound
In addition to relieving muscular and joint pain, muscle and tendon stiffness, and reducing inflammation, it is also suitable for beauty treatment (acne, cellulite, cellulite, cellulite treatment, fat reduction).
Soft laser therapy
In arthritic conditions (rheumatism, arthrosis, tendonitis, inflammation of the jaw joint, etc.), they are effective in reducing pain and inflammation, stimulating cell regeneration and thus healing.
It accelerates the healing of scars, including wounds (ulcers) that do not heal with other treatments. Excellent for the treatment of cold sores, shingles, and facial nerve sores. Lastly, it can be used in Bell’s palsy and partial facial paralysis treatments.
Humidifier
It can be used to increase the humidity of the air, which helps to prevent and treat various respiratory diseases.
Inhaler, also known as a medicine nebulizer
It plays a vital role in the treatment of respiratory diseases. The device creates an inhalation spray of medicine and thus the drug can be delivered directly to the lungs. In asthma attacks, it provides an immediate effect in asphyxia.
Salt therapy device
Primarily used for prevention in cases of colds (flu), croup, asthma attacks, hay fever, respiratory allergies.
In case of acute symptoms, it strengthens the effect of medical therapy and less medication is needed in case of bronchitis, COPD, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, flu, sinusitis, etc.
It is also useful in eczema and psoriasis.
Magnetotherapy device
Unfortunately, in this country, this method has been discredited by some “scam” sales companies and has been undeservedly overshadowed. Yet magnetotherapy is a recognised method of physiotherapy. It is used in medical practice to treat long-standing musculoskeletal disorders (osteoporosis, fractures, arthrosis, arthritis, etc.).
(Pneumatic) Compression therapy unit
Effective solution for the maintenance, at-home treatment of lymphedema.
Also excellent for the treatment of any stages of venous insufficience (heavy legs, varicose veins, venous ulcers) and also for post-thrombotic conditions.
Paraffin treatment
It reduces rheumatoid joint pain and is also excellent for treating dry, fragmented skin.
Defibrillator
Electric much provide resuscitation for victims of sudden cardiac death. Such equipment is needed in as many places as possible, as some 80,000 people in our country die from sudden cardiac death every year, typically at a young age and unexpectedly. With a defibrillator, at least some of them could be saved. Without a defibrillator, they’re hopeless.
Home ECG machine
You can record the electrical activity of your heart, the ECG curve, at any time. For example, if you experience a heart rhythm disturbance or pain in the heart, you can use the instant recording to help your doctor (because by the time you see a doctor, you may not be able to see what caused the complaint).
Pulse-oximeter
Provides monitoring of blood oxygen saturation, which is important for those suffers from heart or respiratory disease.
Blood glucose meter
Provides diabetics with blood glucose monitoring and treatment.
Blood Pressure Monitor
An automatic device that determines blood pressure.
It helps in the early detection of hypertension (high blood pressure).
Its most important role is that allows regular monitoring of the effect of antihypertensive therapy.
Modern medical devices are now available to everyone, are safe and provide effective help in the management of disease and symptoms.