Omron Pain Relief Pro review: Simple And Uncomplicated

With the Pain Relief Pro you can see everything: how long is left, selected mode, battery level, intensity level and there’s even a pad icon as well. The pad icon is a smart addition to this model, it lets you know if there is any problem with the connection.

When researching the previous Omron model I discovered some users weren’t connecting the wires properly to the device. For those in question, this was drastically reducing the performance (and power output) of the machine.

The great thing about the pad icon is it will tell you immediately if it’s not setup properly, helping ensure you are getting the maximum from the device.

Operating the device is as easy as pie, all you have to do is switch it on, select a mode and then adjust the intensity to suit. That doesn’t sound so hard, does it?

The last thing I want to cover in this section is to do with swapping modes. This machine has been designed so you can do that in the middle of a treatment. It’s a pretty nice feature.

With most devices you’d have to stop the current session and start over again – that’s not the case with the Omron PM3031. Simply press the mode button until you select the one you want. It does take the intensity level back down to the lowest setting so you’ll need to adjust that to suit. Some users aren’t overly keen on it doing that, however, I believe it’s necessary.

Each mode provides a particular sensation and some will feel a lot different to others. If you’re using one of the modes on intensity level 10 and then switch to another it may feel stronger or be faster. To avoid any unexpected surprises it’s better to start at a lower intensity, you can easily work your way up by pressing just one button (up). I’m sure that’s why Omron created it this way.

Battery

Omron PM3031 takes 2 x AAA batteries, the unit itself is not rechargeable. If this is important to you, the machines in this piece I wrote are all rechargeable. With regards to battery life, Omron estimates: “New batteries (two AAA alkaline batteries) will last for approx. 4 months (when used for 15 minutes a day, Back Mode, max. intensity).”

If this is the case, the batteries will go further with this machine than PM3030 (Omron estimates they’ll last 3 months in that device, with the same daily usage). I think what’s important to realize here is that there are a number of factors that are going to affect battery life. Not everybody is going to get the same out of a set of batteries. Battery type / quality, the mode you use and what intensity you have set are all going to play a part in how long each set lasts.

One thing I’m not massively keen on is access to the batteries. Omron recommends using a coin to twist open the battery cover. (I think you could also use a large flat head screwdriver in this case.) I would have preferred a better solution here, although, when it’s a device you like you can live with something small like this.

How much juice is left in those batteries?

Can you imagine coming home from work – only to discover there’s nothing left in you TENS unit’s batteries?

The battery icon is simple but incredibly useful. Usually you only find this type of thing on rechargeable devices. If you are going to be using the machine regularly, it would be prudent to buy a box of batteries. Not only will it work out cost-effective over time, it will save you having to keep buying them as you go along. Remember, Omron recommends high quality AAAs. This particular box of 24 looks like excellent value, as does this set of 34. Either of those two should do the job nicely and keep you going for sometime.

Size and portability

The device measures 4.41 in (H) x 2.05 in (W) x 0.98 in (D). This makes it shorter than the iPhone 5 on the height and width measurements. Obviously it’s deeper than the iPhone 5, mainly because it has to house the batteries inside.

In comparison to other popular TENS units, it’s a similar size to TENS 7000 – slightly taller – but a little narrower and about the same depth. It’s not as compact as Omron’s other machine, the PM3030 but is considerably smaller than the truMedic PL-009 (which is 7.8 in tall). Pain Relief Pro isn’t the smallest or most compact device on the market but it certainly isn’t a big brick!

Weighing 3.53 oz, there’s not too much to it – it’s nice and lightweight. In fact, you may be surprised to know it’s even lighter than the iPhone 5 (which weighs in at 3.95 oz). To put this into context, when compared to other TENS machines it seems reasonably light, both TENS 7000 and truMedic PL-009 weigh 5.29 oz. With its relatively small size and lightweight construction, Omron’s Pain Relief Pro can justifiably be categorized as a portable TENS unit.

Something I’ve been calling for more TENS unit manufacturers to do is provide a carrying case with their machines. Omron has almost managed this with Pain Relief Pro… but not quite! They ship a soft carrying pouch with the device. It’s good that they actually give you somewhere to keep your unit and accessories (which is more than most do), however, it isn’t going to provide any protection.

A case with a hardshell exterior like this doesn’t cost much at all on Amazon – and does a better job storing everything – plus it offers a good amount of protection. If you’re planning on taking your new machine on vacation or even to the office, you want something proper to carry it round in.

Included accessories

Omron supplies exactly what you need to get started. When you open the box up you’ll find the PM3031 TENS unit, lead wires, 1 set of pads (2 in total), 1 set of batteries (2 x AAA), a pad holder, pouch and instructions, plus a quick start guide. There’s also a belt clip in there, which depending on how you use the device, can be very helpful. I’ve never bothered with a belt clip myself because I like to lie down and relax during a TENS session – but I know lots of you out there find them to be extremely useful.

In terms of replacement pads, make sure you consider this thoroughly before deciding whether this machine is right for you. The only reason I say this is because they’re not the cheapest to replace, (you can check here for the most up-to-date price).

Omron says each set can be used up to 150 times. I think if you can get that amount of use out of them, you’ll be doing very well. It’s probably worth reading the user reviews for those pads, most of them will be from people who use them on a regular basis and over a period of time.

At 1:20 of the video below you can see a demonstration of the pads placement for treating knee pain:

Another thing worth mentioning here is there’s an extra large set of pads you can buy – to use with this machine. Omron has designed them to be more effective on larger pains, such as the back, hip and thigh.

You may also like to consider Omron compatible pads, read here for further information.

Warranty

You get a 1 year limited warranty with the Pain Relief Pro.

If you’ve read any of my other reviews you’ll know that’s about standard for TENS machines.

A year is the same as you get with AccuRelief devices and is considerably more than the 90 days cover truMedic provides for its PL-009.

There are some units out there that come with longer warranties. If the warranty is your top priority, you could consider something from this brand – their machines come with an attractive limited lifetime warranty.

Consumer reviews

When I researched consumer reviews I found the Omron Electrotherapy Pain Relief Pro PM3031 to be a highly-rated TENS machine. I checked on 24 November, 2015 and on Amazon the device had been reviewed by more than 500 people.

Pros and cons

Here’s a look at why consumers rate this product highly:

As you’d expect, there are one or two things that could be improved:

Price

I found the product to be well priced on Amazon. Another big retailer stocking the machine is Walmart. Another thing I noticed is there was more than one listing on Amazon. You wouldn’t believe how much difference there was between them.

When I think about the price of this machine, I believe it’s reasonable. It’s not the best value TENS unit on the market – but like with Omron’s other machine, the PM3030 – people opt for this device due to its simplicity.

Summary

With Pain Relief Pro, the designers at Omron have addressed some of the drawbacks of its predecessor the PM3030. They have created another TENS unit that’s wonderfully simple and intuitive.

If it’s an upgrade from the PM3030 you’re going to love the new features and modes, they’ll enable you to add plenty of variety to your TENS treatments. On the other hand, if you’re searching for an easy-to-use device or your first TENS unit, it might be worth taking a closer look at the Pain Relief Pro.