TENS THERAPY

Before digging deep into the TENS unit (... and we have a few available), we'll need to understand what pain is. Well, you know that distressful feeling in the body that lets your brain know that something is wrong in your system, yes?  Now that's pain. It is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage

There are a few types of body pain; acute pain, chronic pain, neuropathic pain among other considerations.

Acute pain is short-term pain that comes on suddenly and has a specific cause, usually tissue injury. Some examples include broken bones, surgery, dental work, cuts, and burns.

Chronic pain is persistent pain that lasts weeks to years and may be caused by inflammation or dysfunctional nerves. Some examples include frequent headaches, nerve damage pain, low back pain, and arthritis pain.

The TENS Therapy helps treat these kinds of pain and we shall dive into that in a few.

Keep reading...

So, What is a TENS Unit?

A transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit is a device that uses a non-invasive, drug-free method to send electrical pulses to your body through sticky pads to control pain within the body.

TENS units are small, battery-powered devices that administer mild shocks through sticky tens unit pads (also called electrodes) that connect to the skin to relieve pain. These electrodes connect to the TENS unit through lead wires.

Now, let's move to the purpose of these TENS unit devices.

Immediate relief of acute or chronic pain

TENS unit helps relieve pain through the release of endorphins and pain gating.

• Endorphin Release - Endorphins are one of the body's natural chemicals known as neurotransmitters released when stress is occurring. They help reduce the sensation of pain and lead to feelings of euphoria, modulation of appetite, the release of sex hormones, and enhanced immune response.

TENS units cause the body to release endorphins by sending electrical pulses to the body, the same effect that medicinal drugs have but without the risk or dependence or dangerous side effects.

• Pain Gating - The gate control theory of pain asserts that non-painful input closes the nerve "gates" to painful input, which prevents pain sensation from traveling to the central nervous system. To make it simpler to understand, pain gate theory explains why we rub or shake injuries after they occur. By rubbing or shaking the injured area, we're creating more large fiber activity which diminishes small (pain) fiber activity, thus reducing the sensation of pain.

TENS unit temporarily blocks the pain by activating large fibers to overpower small fibers which cause a massaging sensation to close pain gates. The tingling sensation doesn't allow pain fibers to transmit painful feelings to the brain.

TENS therapy is one of the most used forms of n pain management and electrotherapy for acute or chronic pain.

Maintaining or increasing range of motion

Increasing local blood circulation

Immediate post-surgical stimulation

Relaxation of muscle spasms

Studies and findings:

Dr. William Teller of Stanford University has confirmed that TENS units do increase the body's production of endorphins.

A 2014 study found that TENS therapy was proven to treat acute and chronic pain. Studies show that TENS units produce minimal side effects with no incidents reported and no potential for toxicity or overdose.

Federal law allows over the counter (no prescription) sales of this device.

Advantages of TENS Therapy

Neck pains: TENS units are not recommended to be used on the neck because of the sensitivity of that area.

Migraines: Migraines are another nerve-related condition that results in pain.

Hip Pain: Studies found positive results for TENS therapy as a source of pain relief with studies looking at posttraumatic hip pain and hip flexor pain.

Nerve Pain: TENS therapy involves blocking pain nerves from reporting pain to the brain, making it a perfect candidate for nerve pain relief.

Knee Pain: Because knees absorb much of the shock from walking and other physical activities, they're most susceptible to injuries including sprains, arthritis, and swelling.

Menstrual Cramps: TENS treatment has shown by research to reduce the pain accompanied by period pains effectively.

Face Pain: While it's highly advised that TENS therapy should never be used on the face, users have reported positive facial pain relief.

Arthritis: TENS treatment for arthritis is recommended by Arthritis Research UK, but clarifies that results are mixed depending on the levels and types of arthritis.

Fibromyalgia: Existing research does show that TENS units have a calming effect on the central nervous system.

Muscle Knots: Muscle knots are results of the body's natural pain mechanism to protect the injured area. Because TENS therapy blocks pain receptors, swelling is reduced, and muscle knots are decreased.

Frozen Shoulder: While there is no singular approved treatment for frozen shoulder, The Oxford Shoulder and Elbow Clinic suggest it as a treatment option.

Nerve Damage: TENS units are a standard tool used for those suffering from nerve damage.

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: Because Pelvic Floor Dysfunction is a condition related to muscles, TENS is effective in treating related pain.

Stroke Patients: A study on the effectiveness of TENS on stroke patients found that the treatment method improved walking capacity and reduced spasticity.

Muscle Pain: TENS therapy is a standard and highly used treatment method for muscle pain.

Abdominal Pain: Studies have typically shown that TENS therapy is effective in treating abdominal pain for at least six months with no placebo effect.

Cancer Pain: TENS therapy is recommended as a pain relief source by well-regarded sources such as Macmillan Cancer Support.

Digestion: As weird as it sounds, a study found that TENS therapy helps with digestion by increasing the salivary flow, a critical component that helps digest food.

Endometriosis: A study of 22 women found TENS to be effective in treating pain related to endometriosis.

Sore Muscles: TENS unit create a massage-like stimulation on sore muscles, helping them relax while reducing pain/soreness.

Joint Pain: TENS therapy is proven to be a useful source of joint pain relief. Many users describe a positive experience, and reports show a successful reduction of pain when used.

Steps of using a TENS Unit for Therapy

1. Connect the lead wires to the electrodes
2. Connect the lead wires to the TENS unit device
3. Place the electrodes on the affected area in pain
4. Turn the machine on, keeping it at the lowest intensity level
5. Select the therapy mode
6. Select the desired pulse width
7. Select the desired pulse rate
8. Set the timer
9. If using the TENS unit for the first time, be sure to adjust the intensity, mode, and pulse width and rate until reaching optimal pain relief.

FAQs;

• How long does the pain relief therapy last?

TENS therapy aids lasting as short as 5 minutes and up to 24 hours. There's no definite answer as to why this is, but one hypothesis is that pain relief depends on the pain type as well as the level of pain.

• Is TENS Digital Unit available in Kenya?

TENS Digital 7000 Unit is available in Kenya and East Africa at large for people who want drug-free pain medication.

We guarantee you a walk in the park through your pain relief process using this digital drug-free device.

Kindly give us a call and we'll walk with you through your treatment journey.

References;

https://tens7000.com/blogs/blog/tens-unit-guide

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gate_control_theory

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Brand Name

TENS

Product Name

TENS Digital Unit

Price

KES 13000

Product Availability

Available in Stock