Why TENS Unit Therapy is an Effective Weapon in the War on Pain

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TENS Unit Therapy is an Effective Weapon in the
War on Pain
Address
5103 Summerville Road, Suite A Phenix City,
Alabama 36867
Website
https//www.painreliefasap.com/
Phone
1 [phone]
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What is a TENS Unit?
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation,
commonly referred to as TENS uses an electric
current that activates nerves for a wide range of
therapeutic purposes. It is effective for
managing acute and chronic pain conditions. The
TENS unit is a small equipment, operates with the
help of a battery, and is often portable that can
even fit into a pocket. There are electrodes that
are placed on the skin and connected to the
device via wires to achieve a required
therapeutic goal. The TENS unit promotes a high
degree of user tolerance and has minimal side
effects. In most cases, the devices are
adjustable and facilitate the user to control the
intensity, frequency, and pulse width. They can
be either have a low frequency or high frequency.
Low frequency equates to lt 10Hz which is used at
high intensity to produce muscle contractions.
High frequency denotes a frequency of gt 50 Hz,
and is usually used at low intensity in
paresthesia(1).
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What are the mechanisms of action in pain
management? TENS stimulates the neuronal network
that plays a significant role in reducing pain.
Clinical use of TENS at specific frequencies and
intensities activates afferent fibers (large
diameters) (2).  The afferent input is
transmitted to the central nervous system,
resulting in the activation of descending
inhibitory systems that reduce hyperalgesia.
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Studies have shown that the analgesic effect of
TENS is caused due to blockade of neuronal
activity in certain areas, specifically the
spinal cord, rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM),
and the periaqueductal gray(PAG) demonstrating
the significance of TENS in pain management (3).
Evidence shows that TENS acts as a key tool in
decreasing pain through peripheral and central
mechanisms.
What are the indications? ? Intense TENS works
as a counter-irritant. The aim of this type of
TENS is to target small diameter, cutaneous
afferent (A-delta), which specifically blocks the
nociceptive response and activates the analgesic
mechanisms. Evidence shows that high frequencies
and intensities are used for a short period of
time. Acupuncture-like TENS (AL-TENS) works on
the mechanism of hyperstimulation. It is suitable
for patients who do not respond to traditional
TENS approaches. Typically, it is used at low
frequency, longer pulse width, and at a higher
intensity. AL-TENS targets high threshold
afferent fibers (A-delta). Conventional TENS
works at low-intensity, high-frequency and small
pulse width. The aim of this type of TENS is to
stimulate large diameter, low threshold afferent
fibers (A-beta). It is used in the management of
dermatomal pain distributions (7).
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Pain reduction by TENS ? 1.Neurotransmitters
receptors involved in TENS analgesia High-frequen
cy TENS elevates the concentration of
ß-endorphins in the blood as well as in the
cerebrospinal fluid, and the level of
methionine-enkephalin in the cerebrospinal fluid.
The synaptic transmission is blocked which
minimizes pain in chronic and acute conditions
(4). 2. Reduction in central excitability Studi
es show that both primary and secondary pain is
reduced by low and high-frequency TENS. It is
seen that TENS causes significant pain reduction
in patients with chronic pain including
osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, etc. The pain is
reduced not only at the site where TENS is
applied but also in other areas outside the
application site which shows a reduction in
central excitability (5). Overall, TENS
effectively reduces pain perception by
stimulating large diameter afferents (A-beta)
fibers that decrease the nociceptor activity and
unwanted sensation (6).
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Address
5103 Summerville Road, Suite A Phenix City,
Alabama 36867
Phone
Website
1 [phone]
https//www.painreliefasap.com/
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