Well, physically it works like a side-by-side coil, but with about 65% more power (and deeper tissue penetration). So you would use it the same way you might use coils side-by-side.
They work exceptionally well for me, if I have a really sore lower back. The pain is gone in 15-20 minutes; from pain level of 10 down to a 1 or 2 usually. I wear it with the coils across (NOT along) the spine. In other anatomical locations, the coil orientation is less well defined. I usually have to experiment with it a bit to find what is best for any particular location and injury, but there don’t seem to be many hard-and-fast rules: people vary in how they respond. So ,u advice in general is that side-by-side coils (and deep field coil assemblies) should always be placed across the spine. But in other locations, you should experiment with different coil orientations to find what works best for you.
A starting intensity of 10 is about right. I usually use 9 or 10, and with deep field coils, the effects are pretty fast, usually.
I am glad you appreciated the analogy. The mystery meat analogy is remarkably apt when it comes to comparing different PEMF products (and quality, and safety). I could go on at length with the nuances, but I will spare everyone another rant. Just let it suffice that some people will get exactly my meaning without further comment.