The Slendertone Enervive is a hands free, easy to use, professional muscle conditioner that applies EMS (electrical muscle stimulation) technology to gently and safely stimulate and relax your muscles. This same technology is used by physical therapists in hospitals and clinics to rehabilitate and strengthen muscles.
The Slendertone Enervive has six muscle conditioning programs that can soothe tired muscles in seven different body parts including upper back, lower back, legs and shoulders.
The FDA have cleared all Slendertone EMS products for sale in the US as Class II medical devices – and they are safe and effective for their intended purpose (muscle conditioning or strengthening and toning). For more information go to the Slendertone FAQs page.
Benefits:
- Helps soothe tired muscles with a relaxing massage-like experience.
- Helps improve muscle recovery and rehabilitation after over exertion.
Features:
- Portable battery pack that runs on a 9-volt battery. (Instruction Manual
Download PDF) - Easy to use. (Quick Setup Guide
Download PDF) - Cost is $179.99. Order on the Slendertone website.
- Replacement pads are $49.99 for three sets.
- All Slendetone products are supplied with two-year manufacturer’s warranty.
- All SLENDERTONE® products, distributed by Slendertone Distribution Inc., (SDI) and purchased directly from SDI, come with a full 60 day money-back guarantee period, which begins on the day you receive your product.
My review
When the product arrived, my husband was said, "Oh you'll really enjoy this! It'll be great for your knee." I wasn't thinking about my knee so much as my neck. I'm on the computer a lot and my shoulders are sore.
The Enervive is very easy to set up and use. You just put in the battery to the controller. Then you apply the sticky pads to your problem area (the user manual tells you where you can and can't use the pads). Then you attach the electrodes to the pads and plug them into the battery pack. Then you pick a program - again explained very well in the instruction manual - push a few buttons and relax.
If you want to put the pads to your shoulders or back, you'll need to get help from someone to apply and plug them in correctly. Also, beware that the pads are super sticky. You may want to put up your hair in a pony tail or wrap in a towel. If you're a hairy man, it may be uncomfortable removing the pads.
I tried Envervive a few times on my neck/shoulder area. What I found was that the stimulation isn't as powerful as the machines at my physical therapist's office. Still, maybe it isn't necessary to feel the stimulation as much as I think so. During PT I was told that they should turn up the machine until it's just becoming a little bit uncomfortable.
Update: Operator error here, folks. I didn't realize the Envervive went higher than 10. Doh! I was able to turn it up in the mid-20 range for my neck/shoulders before it got uncomfortable. My husband turned it up to the 70s for his lower back!
I'm impressed. The Envervive is as powerful as the machines at PT and you may want to purchase one - with your therapist's or doctor's permission - to use. If you don't have to go to your PT appointments to get EMS, you may save money on medical insurance deductibles.
Did it work? Well, at first I didn't think so. Then I realized, hmmm, my neck does feel better. It's less tight and sore. Maybe it is helping. I'll have to try Envervive more to be positive. I'd like to try it more on my bad knee, too.
Should you buy Slendertone Envervive? After all, it's a pricey product at $179.99. Keep in mind that all SLENDERTONE® products, distributed by Slendertone Distribution Inc., (SDI) and purchased directly from SDI, come with a full 60 day money-back guarantee period, which begins on the day you receive your product. This gives you plenty of time to decide if the product will help you with your muscle problems.
Also, with the holidays coming up, this is a great present to give someone. And if you get an extra set of pads, you and your significant other can share a power unit.