Revitive Medic

As a regular mid-long distance runner I find the Revitive significantly helps with my post-run lower-leg recovery, as well as pre-run preparation. I've only used the body pads once (on my right thigh) and it was also very effective. Even if I have no immediate run or workout planned I still use Revitive every morning for 45 minutes as I prepare for my work day. Show details ·  1

Revitiv Medic (5573AQ) even better than the earlier models – We've owned almost the entire range of circulation boosters over the last 20 years: We bought them for my mum... but I've used them to figure out how best to set them up. The only unit we haven't owned is the Medic Coach (newest and most expensive) which has a longer battery life (360 min) and auto ramp up intensity. All circulation boosters are… Read more ·  2

good... but as they get better they get more expensive.

The Revitiv Medic has a battery with 210 minutes (3.5 h) of power. A battery is very useful as the power supply can be accidentally unplugged in the middle of a session. With a battery the session remains undisturbed even if the power is disconnected. It also means you can use the unit in places without a power point. 3 1/2 h of battery life is sufficient for casual use... but might be insufficient if you regularly used it somewhere without a power supply. In practise the units tend not to move around much and stay attached to power sockets... so the battery capacity is unlikely to be much of an issue for most owners.

The Medic has a flat almost continuous surface (unlike earlier machines)... so it is very easy to clean and is protected against liquid spills.

The Revitiv Medic now includes EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation). Previously the Circulation Booster only supported TENS (Trans Cutaneous Nerve Stimulation). The Medic is much more effective at strengthening the muscles than the older Circulation Boosters. You'll notice that the muscles around the knees and thighs get noticeably stronger: Less knee pain and improved stability. It might take a few weeks to notice these changes... so be patient. These two benefits alone are worth the extra price of the Revitiv Medic. N.B. The older models only affect your calves and don't do much for the knees or thighs.

The Medic can now rock 20 degrees: Increased from 15 degrees in older models. The rocking motion seems to be appreciated by some people more than others. The extra 5 degrees is noticeably steeper... but it's hard to know if it's any more useful. The rocker is now designed into the case and has no moving parts. Previously it had to be flipped into position. The reduced number of moving parts is an improvement from a design perspective... although the rocker has never been a problem.

If the Medic Coach is even more effective then it might be worth investing in.

Pro's The Circulation Booster itself is a very durable unit and should last many years. They will only fail if you spill a lot of stuff on them. Even if they stop working a clean at the local repairer will usually get them going again.

For anyone having trouble walking using a Circulation Booster can be almost like magic e.g. My mum could suddenly walk again 24 h after first using a circulation booster (the older model).

Normally you'd run the unit for 1 h at a time. If you're watching TV or doing something while sitting down the time won't be much of an issue.

Cons The power supply on every one of our older Revitiv's has failed after a few years. However the Revitiv Medic has a redesigned PSU which should last longer. How long? Only time will tell.

Circulation boosters also include the ability to attach pads to your body and directly stimulate other parts of the body. The only problem with the pads is that they need regular replacement. As a result you're unlikely to ever buy more expensive pads once the first lot stop working N.B. There is no reason that the pads can't be reusable. However, the special connector is designed to make this difficult.

Revitiv Circulation Boosters are pricey... but they're much better than other brands: Most alternative cheap TENS/EMS products fail soon after purchase and don't work as well. N.B. Buy a second hand Circulation Booster if you don't want to pay the new price.

BTW: Vibration is not the same as TENS/EMS: When vibration is used over longer periods it makes your knees sore.

:-) P.S. There are other devices like PEMF (Pulsed Electro Magnetic Field) units that work via induction not direct electrical stimulation i.e. PEMF stimulates energy (~+500%) and stem cell (~+400%) production. This ~doubles healing rate. However, PEMF doesn't make the muscles stronger or increase circulation directly the way TENS/EMS does.

Feeling Some Improvement In Short Space of Time – Been using it for a little while now and I've found really is reducing tightness and soreness in my calves and reducing tingles and numbness in my toes. Easy to use. Charging is easy. And the number of uses between charges is spot on. Feel like it was a great purchase. Show details ·  3

Awesome drug free pain relief – Although I had one of the first Revitive circulation boosters, I had completely forgotten just how incredibly effective they are. I purchased the Revitive medic coach with the soft silicone foot pad, and after just one day of use my ankle I have arthritis & swelling in has dramatically reduced. I would highly recommend it to anyone. Show details ·  1

Sadly, following medical advise, do not use this machine (or any other similar machine) if you have a Pacemaker in place – As my Mum has a number of health issues, we thought purchasing a Revitive Medic would have been very beneficial in treating her swollen ankles & legs. Unfortunately she also has a Pacemaker installed. The packaging however, only states it is "Unsuitable if you are fitted with an electronic implanted device such as a heart Pacemaker or Automatic… Read more

Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (AICD)" see photo attached. I did some further research & contacted the manufacturing company (Actegy Pty Ltd) who confirmed that this product is NOT suitable in mum's situation and could cause her problems. I stated that perhaps they need to provide more details other than just stating "Unsuitable". They then advised me to contact a Heart Specialist to discuss it if I wanted further information. So I contacted the cardiology team at the SCUH hospital and they confirmed that it would definitely be ill-advisable for mum to use the machine because the electronic signal emitted from the Revitive through her legs would eventually reach the heart, causing the pacemaker to misinterpret what the heart actually required which would then lead to a possible malfunction. Having said all that, there are some genuinely great reviews of this product & I've no doubt it helps a lot of people, except for those with a pacemaker, so unfortunately I am reluctantly returning the unit for a refund to mum's homecare package funding.

Is this a good purchase? I am yet to be able to judge – I have had this machine for a couple of weeks now. I have poor circulation in my toes and hoped it might help relieve the condition. To date, I have been unable to tolerate anything higher than a setting of 40, so I cannot fully judge how effective the circulation boost is. It appears to work on the ankles and lower legs, but does not seem to… Read more ·  2

affect the toes. If you have ever used a TENS machine on a painful area, the Revitive gives you a similar action. The pulses vary in type from gentle to quite dramatic. One thing I noticed early and doesn't really make much sense is that using the machine upsets my hip, in which I have pain periodically. Yet the pulses only seem to be reaching my lower calf. So, there is obviously some nerve that is affected which I cannot feel while I use the Revitive. At this stage, to be fair, I am still uncertain as to the benefit for my condition, however, I will continue to use it and update my review at a later time to fully expand on its benefit or otherwise. After a month of using this machine daily I have more experience to share that may benefit others. Firstly, start low perhaps 30. Build up. The machine will not rock whilst in the lower levels of strength, however, going too high may cause you to feel discomfort. You build up tolerance over time. I am up to 55 now and the machine still does not rock. However the stimulation of the muscles is dramatic now. Secondly, if you put your feet on the machine and start to raise the level switch and feel nothing, the machine may not be malfunctioning. Try this - put a little moisturiser on your feet and you may immediately feel the pulses. Thirdly, after a month, this is my experience. I have toes that had very poor circulation. Without socks on, the toes would discolour to a bluish tinge, even with an electric blanket on, the toes would often not absorb enough heat to stop cold foot discomfort and I had to wear socks and slippers on even mild days. After a month, I can honestly say that my toes have much increased circulation. When in a cold room, my toes are warm, albeit in socks and slippers. I can easily get both legs and feet warm in seconds in a warm bed. That, as far as I am concerned, is totally what I hoped for with this machine. So, although others may have poor peripheral circulation in their feet and their condition may not be the same as mine, the gamble of the cost certainly paid off. Edit: After some time now, I can attest to the fact that this machine does improve circulation. It will not restore complete vascular health to damaged vessels, but it certainly helps to increase circulation. I can now go into a cold bed and my feet will warm up and I can comfortably get to sleep. There is one proviso, that it is not freezing cold. I will always need an electric blanket in high winter, but there is an improvement that is worth using this machine.

Nothing wrong with the product or service however it wasn't suitable for my foot condition and seemed to make it worse. I have a real issue with my ankle and am struggling to get a diagnosis despite seeing 4 podiatrists, 3 physio's and a orthopaedic surgeon. I tried this device out of desperation but clearly it wasn't designed to address my kind… Read more

of pain. I sent it back under the 60 day trial guarantee and received a refund very promptly. So absolutely no criticism about the product or the company behind it. If poor circulation is your only problem and you cannot boost your circulation naturally through walking or other exercise, then this device is probably worth a try.