TENS
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a therapy that uses low-voltage electrical current for pain relief.
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is the use of electric current produced by a device to excite the nerves for therapeutic constancies. We will connect the TENS unit to the skin using two or more electrodes. We usually use TENS for nerve related to acute and chronic pain conditions. TENS machines serve by sending stimulating pulses across the surface of the skin and along the nerve strands. The exciting pulses help prevent pain signals from reaching the brain.
TENS devices also further stimulate your body to engender higher levels of its own natural painkillers, known as Endorphins. It is a technique of intermodulation that affects the sensory pathway by changing the impulse, which leads to relief of pain.
What is TENS Used for?
People use TENS to relieve pain for several different types of illnesses and conditions. They use it most often to treat muscle, joint, or bone problems that occur with illnesses such as osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia, or for conditions such as low back pain, neck pain, tendinitis, or bursitis. People have also used TENS to treat sudden (acute) pain, such as labour pain, and long-lasting (chronic) pain, such as cancer pain.
- Musculoskeletal pain – Acute postoperative pain and acute post traumatic pain
- Chronic pain: e.g. (rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, etc
- Chronic low back pain
- Painful diabetic neuropathy
- Neuropathic pain
- Visceral pain and dysmenorrhea
- Knee pain
- Sports injuries
- Phantom pain
- Neck pain
- Patients who do not comprehend the physiotherapist’s instructions or who are unable to cooperate
- Avoid the application of the electrodes over the trunk abdomen or pelvis during pregnancy with the exception of the use of TENS for labour pain
- Pacemaker
- Patients who have an allergic response to the electrodes, gel or tape
- Dermatological conditions e.g. dermatitis, eczema
- If there is abnormal skin sensation, the electrodes should be positioned in a site other than this area to ensure effective stimulation
- Electrodes should not be placed over the eyes
- Patients who have epilepsy should be treated at the discretion of the physiotherapist in consultation with the appropriate medical practitioner
- Avoid active epiphyseal regions in children
- The use of abdominal electrodes during labour may interfere with foetal monitoring equipment