The TENS Treatment Process – A Closer Look

TENS or Trans-cutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation is a way to stimulate the muscles and nerves of specific areas in a body to relieve from pain. TENS therapy, too many, has become an effective alternative to the medical procedures where chances of side effects are higher than usual. On the other hand, TENS therapy never promises any kind of side effects and is considered a highly safe alternative to the age-old medication treatments. TENS units are portable and battery operated with easy to use operating procedures. They come with special electrode pads to be worn on the affected region of the body. Once worn, the machine is turned on. What this does is passing a certain amount of electricity through the pads to hit the targeted areas of the body. Muscle stimulation happens and it results in providing much relief to the areas. The patient, during the course of treatment, will experience much comfort and a relatively pain-free state.

The effectiveness of a TENS machine has always been questioned. However, most of the research works conducted have brought in positive results and displayed the high level of efficiency this treatment brings in to the patient. TENS therapy has proved to be an effective and safe way to get rid of acute and chronic pain problems. However, the effect of the treatment can vary from one person to another, as like every other treatment therapies available.

There are basically two ways through which a TENS and EMS machine can function. Let’s have a look at both of these:

The device is switched on to a higher pulse rate of 90-130 Hz. Once done, the electrical impulses being generated will start interfering while blocking the pain messages being sent to the brain. This process works on the GATE Control Theory of Pain. According to the theory, there is a certain GATE mechanism in the brain as well in the spinal cord nerves. Once the GATE is open, pain messages start to get through to the brain and there happens to be a certain feeling of the pain. Once the GATE is closed, these pain messages get blocked and there will be no feeling of the pain. These machines are said to stimulate the nerves that seem to be non-pain carrying. These nerves once stimulated help in closing the GATE. So naturally, the brain is deprived of the pain signals. Thus, the patient doesn’t feel any kind of pain.

Another way to carry out the treatment is setting the machine to a low pulse rate (2-5 Hz) to stimulate the body and release pain easing chemicals called endorphins. With the release of these chemicals, the pain signals are being blocked. 

Use the TENS unit for treatment purpose carefully. You must consult a doctor before the use of the device. Make sure you are following the guidelines properly. Pads for TENS machine must be kept clean before and after the treatment to retain the elasticity.

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