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TENSWhat is it?TENS is short for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator. It is an electronic device that produces electrical currents used to stimulate nerves through 2 or more electrodes applied to the skin. How do you do it?A TENS instrument is required. Electrode pads are placed so that the area to be treated is between them. The pads are connected to the instrument and a program started that passes pulses between the pads.What is it used for?TENS is a method for treating pain which some people find effective and others don't.It is an effective treatment for chronic musculoskeletal pain, pain due to nerve damage and they are also used to reduce contraction pain during labour Most instruments use pre-gelled self-adhering electrodes (single patient use) to send the signal through the skin. The electrodes Transmit the electrical pulses through the skin to the nerve fibres. Pain relief is achieved by the stimulation of the nerve fibres acting as a gate to block pain transmission. Low frequency 'Burst' stimulation can increase the body's own pain relieving endorphins/enkepalins and provide natural analgesia What equipment do I need?A TENS unit is needed. These are available as a small battery operated 2 channel instrument
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