Treating Chronic Back Pain At Home
If you’re struggling with chronic back pain, finding effective, at-home pain relief—without the hassle of frequent clinic visits—can be life-changing. Unlike physical therapy, massage, or other treatments that require appointments, the RS-4i Plus offers prescription-strength electrotherapy for treating back pain at home—available whenever you need it. There’s no scheduling, travel time, or waiting rooms. Just apply your electrode pads and start experiencing pain relief.
However, placing electrodes on your own —especially for upper back pain, low back pain, or full back pain—can be challenging without help. That’s where RS Medical’s wearable garments come in. The RS-LBG™ Low Back Garment and the RS-FBG™ Full Back Garment make set up simple, allowing you to manage your therapy independently, whenever you like. No second set of hands required.
3 Benefits of Garments for At-Home Pain Relief
1. One-Time Electrode Pad Placement
Accurate electrode pad placement is key to effective treatment for back pain, and our Interactive Pad Placement Guide shows exactly where your electrodes should go.
Using the Low Back or Full Back Garment makes this process even quicker because you only need to position the electrode pads once on the inside of your garment. After that, you can easily slip on the garment, connect your device, and begin your at-home pain relief session—no need to place the electrode pads one-by-one each time.
2. Hit the Right Spots for Pain Relief
Inside each garment is a numbered grid to help guide you in placing the electrodes precisely. Both garments can hold up to eight electrode pads, providing comprehensive coverage for upper, lower, or full back pain.
3. Adjustable Fit for Better Contact and Comfort
Our garments are fully adjustable for optimal comfort and performance. The Low Back Garment features side straps to customize the fit around your waist, while the Full Back Garment includes side zippers for easy adjustments. This ensures the electrodes stay in full contact with your skin, enhancing the effectiveness of your electrotherapy sessions.
How to Use the Full Back or Low Back Garment
Why Electrotherapy is Effective for Chronic and Full Back Pain
The RS-4i Plus is a prescription-grade electrotherapy device that uses high-frequency Interferential Therapy (INF) to block pain signals from reaching the brain. This not only interrupts the transmission of pain but also helps trigger the release of the body’s natural painkillers—endorphins—which can provide pain relief that typically lasts between 4 to 8 hours.
What makes this extended relief possible? It comes down to the frequency of the signal. The RS-4i Plus delivers a 5,000 Hz high-frequency signal. In contrast, many over-the-counter electrotherapy units only offer 50 to 250 Hz. The 5,000 Hz frequency penetrates deeper into tissues, effectively reaching the nerves responsible for chronic back pain. Lower-frequency devices simply lack the power to go as deep and, thus, are unlikely to produce the same degree of pain relief.
Along with pain-blocking capabilities, the RS-4i Plus also provides Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES), which activates both fast and slow twitch muscle fibers. Being able to stimulate a broader range of muscle fibers, especially in the large muscles of the body like the back, allows the RS-4i Plus to elicit a maximal muscle contraction that supplies a flow of oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to the muscles while expelling metabolic waste. This helps to improve blood flow and relax muscle spasms – which, in turn, helps further reduce back pain.
A Closer Look at the Waveforms
The RS-4i Plus combines Interferential Therapy (INF) and Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) to deliver powerful pain relief and muscle rehabilitation.
What is Interferential Therapy (INF)? INF uses two slightly different high-frequency currents (> 5,000 Hz) that intersect within the body, creating a therapeutic “sweet spot”. These high-frequency signals bypass the skin’s resistance and reach deep into the tissue, providing rapid pain relief through the Gate Control Theory. They also stimulate the release of natural opioids, delivering pain relief that can last up to 4-8 hours after treatment.
What is Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES)? NMES uses lower-frequency currents (< 100 Hz) to treat muscles. These signals cause rhythmic muscle contractions, which mimic the body’s natural “pumping” action to boost blood and lymphatic circulation. This helps prevent muscle atrophy, improves blood flow, and supports tissue recovery—making it especially valuable for managing upper back pain, low back pain, or widespread full back pain.
At Home Back Pain Relief with Electrotherapy
Chronic back pain is a debilitating condition affecting millions of Americans. The RS-4i Plus delivers powerful electrotherapy designed to improve muscle function and ease pain across your upper, lower, or full back. Paired with our wearable garments, it offers a convenient, and effective way to manage back pain independently and at home.
Take the Next Step
Healthcare providers, who are interested in a more detailed review of our technology and clinical results, we invite you to complete the form below. A team member will be in touch to schedule a product demonstration.
Patients, if chronic back pain, upper back pain, or low back pain is impacting your quality of life, the RS-4i Plus offers a proven, non-drug pain relief solution. If you are interested in talking to your healthcare provider about electrotherapy treatments with the RS-4i Plus, download our patient discussion guide here.
Related Resources
Blog: Break the Cycle of Back Pain without Surgery
Blog: Effective At-Home Pain Management: A Physician’s Perspective on the RS-4i® Plus
This blog provides general information and discussion about medicine, health and related subjects. The words and other content provided in this blog, and in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. If the reader or any other person has a medical concern, he or she should consult with an appropriately-licensed physician or other healthcare professional.