TENS
TENS
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
What is your first reaction when you hurt your leg? You rub the area!
The TENS device works in a similar way. The skin gets electrically stimulated. This results in a direct pain block and the activation of central endorphins. There are as good as no side effects if the device gets applied correctly.Anwendung.
Mechanism
The fast pain we feel after we hurt our leg gets transmitted by fast A- fibers.
The A- fibers transmit the more important informations to the brain. The quantity of information which can be transmitted via the spinal cord to and to the central nervous system is limited which means that if the “important” A- fibers transmit information the CNS inhibits the slower C- fibers. This is the way the TENS device works, it slows down the A- fibers.
Application
The pain area needs to be surrounded from 2 to 4 electrodes. The patient should apply the device in the painful area. Due to my experience the period of time where you should apply the device (according to the description) is too short. The device can also be worn during work because it easily fits in your pocket and the electrodes can be covered by your cloth.
Rule of thumb:
High frequence:
Strengthen the muscle, increases the perfusion
High frequence (50- 150 Hz)- low intensity
Not blockable by Naloxon
Low frequency:
Analgesic (painkilling), relaxing, vasodilation, stimulates endorphine release
Low frequency (1- 5 Hz)- high intensity
Humoral effect (Endorphines)
Partially blockable by Naloxon
Strong analgetic