Applying TENS to Cure Your Lower Paraspinal Pain
An increasing number of people seek alternative approaches as the primary means to address their musculoskeletal symptoms.
The following is a simple introduction to one option, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).
TENS involves placement of sticky stimulus pads (electrodes) over or near the sites of pain, the pads attached to wires from a source of electrical stimulation.
The TENS units function via a combination of means including overexciting the pain receptor nerves, inhibiting their ability to send off pain signals, blocking pain signals in route to the brain and causing release of natural pain relieving chemicals from our bodies (endorphins, enkephalins, and dynorphins).
The volume of output current is affected by the combined impedance of the electrodes, skin, and tissues.
Repeated application of electrical stimulus to a single location on the skin causes skin impedance to diminish.
Flow of stimulus through the skin improves as the duration of the stimulus increases.
Constant current stimulators are preferred to minimize sudden, uncontrolled fluctuations of current intensity related to changes in impedance.
As such, electro-conductive gel application between the electrodes and skin helps minimize the skin impedance.
High frequency and low frequency TENS has slightly different effects.
As such, working with multi-frequency units is preferable.
Satisfactory response to specific frequencies and pulse patterns differs from person to person.
Optimal settings vary and are determined by trial and error.
Electrode positioning is often based upon a combination of recommendations from professionals and source materials that accompany the TENS units and subsequent to personal experience.
Medical complications with use of TENS are rare.
Nevertheless, caution should be noted regarding a few conditions such as concurrent use of fixed electrical stimulators (e.
g.
, pacemaker), pregnancy and others.
Although TENS units are very simple micro-machines, contact your physician regarding the safety of TENS use for you and the treatment your low back (or other) pain.
The following is a simple introduction to one option, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).
TENS involves placement of sticky stimulus pads (electrodes) over or near the sites of pain, the pads attached to wires from a source of electrical stimulation.
The TENS units function via a combination of means including overexciting the pain receptor nerves, inhibiting their ability to send off pain signals, blocking pain signals in route to the brain and causing release of natural pain relieving chemicals from our bodies (endorphins, enkephalins, and dynorphins).
The volume of output current is affected by the combined impedance of the electrodes, skin, and tissues.
Repeated application of electrical stimulus to a single location on the skin causes skin impedance to diminish.
Flow of stimulus through the skin improves as the duration of the stimulus increases.
Constant current stimulators are preferred to minimize sudden, uncontrolled fluctuations of current intensity related to changes in impedance.
As such, electro-conductive gel application between the electrodes and skin helps minimize the skin impedance.
High frequency and low frequency TENS has slightly different effects.
As such, working with multi-frequency units is preferable.
Satisfactory response to specific frequencies and pulse patterns differs from person to person.
Optimal settings vary and are determined by trial and error.
Electrode positioning is often based upon a combination of recommendations from professionals and source materials that accompany the TENS units and subsequent to personal experience.
Medical complications with use of TENS are rare.
Nevertheless, caution should be noted regarding a few conditions such as concurrent use of fixed electrical stimulators (e.
g.
, pacemaker), pregnancy and others.
Although TENS units are very simple micro-machines, contact your physician regarding the safety of TENS use for you and the treatment your low back (or other) pain.