Tens

TREATMENT

TENS

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) involves a mild electrical current being passed through the skin, into the nerve fibres that lie just beneath it. The electrical current is delivered in a series of pulses by a pair of small electrodes, placed around the site of pain. The electrical stimulation is produced by a TENS machine.

The exact nature of the TENS treatment is determined by the frequency of the pulse: high frequency, typically greater than 60Hz (60 pulses per second), attempts to override the pain signals being sent to the brain; low frequency, accompanied by high intensity, attempts to stimulate endorphin release.

EFFICACY

In theory, TENS sounds like a good idea.

However, the effects are mild (at best) and very short-lived. The high frequency mode, for example, is not very good at overriding the pain messages being sent to the brain and the effects stop as soon as the current is turned off.

The low frequency mode is slightly more effective, but:

It does not produce many endorphins.

The endorphins that are released are broken down by the body relatively quickly (using an enzyme called endorphinase); their effects are therefore short-lived.

The body develops a self-limiting tolerance to these chemicals over time, just as it does for any other drug (naturally occurring or otherwise), an effect known as down regulation.

CONCLUSION

At best, TENS will provide symptomatic pain relief from relatively mild back pain and only for short periods of time. It does not treat the causes of back pain.

PRICE

Approximately: £70.

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