Powerdot 2 Duo – Super Easy To Use
Katie Prendergast
The PowerDot 2 Duo is a muscle recovery and performance tool. There are two units for purchase: the Uno comes with 1 pod, the Duo comes with 2 pods.
The pods attach magnetically to pads, which transmit the TENS (transcutaneous) signal to your muscles. You can purchase replacement pads and a larger butterfly pad meant for back treatment on the PowerDot site.
PowerDot’s “Smart Muscle Stimulator” pods connect via Bluetooth to an app, which is how you control the e-stim programs. There are programs for performance, wellness, pain relief, and recovery. The performance programs are further broken up by goal (muscle endurance, strength endurance, resistance, strength, and explosive strength).
Every program is customized to individual muscle groups and adjustable based on your training and/or pain levels.
Some nifty features available due to app control include:
- Monitoring pain levels before and after treatment enables the app to track your improvement over time.
- Pod battery life is displayed in-app so you know when you’re due for a charge.
- The app tracks how many treatments you’ve done and recommends replacing pads after 25 treatments. (The only downfall here is if you only use 1 pod and 1 set of pads for a treatment; the app has no way of distinguishing between times you’ve used set A vs set B.
PowerDot 2 Testing – TENS and Massage
When I started testing the system, I was about 2-3 weeks post-op from a broken ankle. That meant that I could only use the e-stim programs on my unaffected side.
My first use of the device was the TENS pain relief program for my IT band. I noticed that my
IT/glute pain diminished after the treatment.
Subsequently, I tested the pain relief programs on my right glute, quads, right rear delt, and upper back. My sister, who is a massage therapist, tested the pain relief program on her forearm wrist flexors and extensors.
Each program left my muscles feeling noticeably less tense and with less pain. Based on my sisters feedback, the unit seems better suited to large muscle groups (glutes, quads) compared to smaller muscles in the forearms.
In one round of testing, I performed one 20:00 TENS program on my shoulder, then moved the pads to slightly different points on the same muscle group and repeated the same 20:00 program. That seemed to really resolve the pain and tightness across the entire area.
I thought it was cool that I could use one or both pods at a time.
For example, I used one pod on my quad, and the other part up on my same-side glute to treat my chronic hip pain. Granted, I had to select either the quad or the hip program, but that didn’t seem to affect treatment. This is handy if you have pain at different points along a limb.
What’s great is that you have the flexibility to control each pod individually for different intensities on muscles on your left and right, or in my case, for different muscle groups on the same limb.
PowerDot 2 Testing – Strength
I also tested a strength program on my calf. At time of testing, I was just over 3 months post-op and had experienced significant atrophy in my calf muscle.
I used 1 PD unit on my left calf (specifically the gastrocnemius muscle at the top of the calf, directly under my knee). As a result of breaking my ankle 3 months ago, I lost a lot of muscle in my left calf.
This was my first time doing calf raises post-op.
The calf strength program is 25 minutes, including five minutes for both warm up and recovery afterward.
The 15:00 workout involved cycles of 7 seconds on, 7 seconds off, for 64 total cycles of contraction and rest. I held the top/concentric of a calf raise during the pulse interval, then lowered myself for ~5 sec on each “rest” interval.
At first, I couldn’t feel much contraction of my left calf, while my right leg felt “normal” even without the e-stim. By the end, I felt a better mind-muscle connection with my atrophied left calf, and my entire left leg was shaking from exertion on the eccentric (lowering) portion of the calf raise.
I’ve used other e-stim units, from medical-grade e-stim at physical therapy offices to other home units. In comparison to the Compex unit I own, the PowerDot wins for simplicity and ease of use.
The Compex unit can look intimidating compared to the minimalist PowerDot design. Since the Compex interface is built into the machine, it’s more limited than the PowerDot app, which has a ton more features and flexibility.
Overall impressions:
- The PowerDot has a nice, sleek design.
- It’s easy to use, and cool to have so much control over the unit with the app
- Good battery life (got about 10-12 usesfrom it straight out of the boxbefore charging).
Other notes:
- App monitors pain before and after treatments so you can track your recovery.
- Pad life:
- Pads expected to last 25 uses.
- So far, they’ve held up to 20 uses.
- App counts how many sessions you do, so you know when you need to order replacement pads.
I’m still curious about using the system during a full strength workout, something I was unable to do before this write up due to my ankle rehab.
Katie Prendergast
Katie is a writer, strength and nutrition coach, and avid fan of all things outdoors. She climbs, snowboards, hikes, mountain bikes, and spends time in the mountains whenever she can.
When Katie is not outside, she helps skiers/riders and climbers build strength in the gym to more confidently tackle their next adventure.
Some of her favorite things are lifting heavy things, drinking craft beer, and hanging out with her pup, Gunner.
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