Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, better known as TENS, uses electrical pulses to help treat a variety of acute or chronic pain. These are distributed evenly to the painful areas using electrodes that are taped to the skin. This stimulation of the nerves is offered in numerous pain clinics and also in physiotherapy practices. Meanwhile, there are even high-quality devices that can be used wonderfully at home.
What is transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation?
With TENS, electrical impulses are evenly distributed to the painful areas with the help of electrodes that are stuck to the skin. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is good at relieving all the pain that affects the musculoskeletal system. Especially pains of muscles and joints are treated with this popular device. Therefore, the stimulation of the nerves with the TENS device is offered in all good practices for physiotherapy. More and more practices also lend their devices to patients, so that they can decide for themselves at home when they want to perform the treatment. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is prescribed by any doctor, especially, of course, the orthopedist. The rental of a TENS device for home use is even covered by some health insurance companies; however, one must first submit an application. The co-payment for the rental room is then a maximum of ten euros for the patient. Who would not like to lend this equipment, this finds likewise in numerous well sorted on-line stores to the purchase. Already from 100 euros are good TENS devices available.
Function, effect and goals
The stimulation current, which is generated with the TENS device, is particularly often used for acute and also chronic back pain. However, the symptoms of other diseases can also be significantly alleviated with nerve stimulation using electricity. With muscle tensions of all kinds as well as with the lumbago the TENS device is successfully used. Here are more indicators, which speak for the use of electrical stimulation of the nerves:
- Acute and chronic pain
- External ankle ligament injury
- Bunion pain
- Ligament overstretching
- Joint pain of all kinds
- Wrist instability
- Hip joint arthrosis
- Pain of the hip
- Pain of the sciatica
- Torn capsular ligament
- Buckling foot complaints
- Damage to the meniscus
- Migraine or tension headaches
- Phantom limb pain after amputations
- Postoperative pain
- Bruises/sprains
- Rheumatic complaints
- Bursitis
- Shoulder pain
- Shoulder stiffness
- Tendon disorders
- Tennis or golfer’s elbow
Incidentally, the stimulation of the nerves is now not only used to relieve pain, the TENS devices are also very popular in the fitness sector. The stimulation current addresses and stimulates the affected muscles. The current influences the nerve pathways leading to the brain, which are responsible for pain conduction. Furthermore, the treatment with the TENS device is supposed to increase the endorphin release and thus stimulate the metabolism. The application of such a TENS device is very simple and can be operated by the patient alone at home after instruction by the doctor. The device itself is not much bigger than a cell phone; two to four electrodes are attached to it, which stick to the skin by themselves. According to the location of certain pain and acupuncture points, these are attached to the skin. Not only acupuncture points, but also trigger points are readily selected to attach the electrodes. At a medium current strength and frequencies between 50 and 150 hertz, the electric shocks are now sent; this is said to be very helpful, especially for acute pain. If, on the other hand, a higher amperage and low frequencies between five and ten hertz are selected, this pain-relieving effect can be prolonged even further. Although the pain relief does not start immediately at this low frequency, it lasts all the longer. The current is of course not painful, only a slight tingling sensation is felt by some patients.This is alternating current; physicians also speak of so-called square-wave pulses, because the frequency phases change during the treatment. A session with the TENS device should last between 20 and 50 minutes, although several applications per day are quite possible. Optimal are two applications of a duration of 45 minutes per day. A longer stimulation is not recommended, because then the so-called habituation effect occurs. Those suffering from acute pain can get rid of it after just a few sessions with the help of electrical stimulation of the nerves. In the case of chronic pain, on the other hand, a longer lasting treatment is recommended. Since electrical nerve stimulation is completely harmless, one can use a TENS unit for weeks or even months.
Risks, side effects and dangers
Wearers of pacemakers and epileptics should avoid electrical nerve stimulation, as should pregnant women. The same applies to patients suffering from thrombosis in the arteries or veins. In case of fever and other inflammations the use of the TENS device is also not recommended. However, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is unconditionally recommended to all other patients. This application is medically absolutely harmless and, unlike drugs, free of risks and side effects. Especially popular is the mobile TENS device for home, because with this one can arrange his time freely and is not bound to the opening hours of pain clinic or physiotherapy. All in all, the electrical stimulation of the nerves is a good complement to massages, physiotherapy or other physical therapies.
