What does TENS stand for?

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a method of pain relief involving the use of a mild electrical current. A TENS machine is a small, battery-operated device that has leads connected to sticky pads called electrodes.

When should TENS be used?

When is it best to use TENS? Research has shown that TENS is most helpful for chronic pain when used for at least 30 minutes while you are active. It is less effective when you are sitting still, lying down, or resting.

What are the types of TENS?

Table 1.

Conventional TENS (low-intensity, high-frequency)
Acupuncture-like TENS (high-intensity, low-frequency)
Intense TENS (high-intensity, high-frequency)

Do TENS machines loosen muscles?

It also works by sending small electrical impulses, which this time are delivered directly to the muscle, causing it to contract. The muscle contracts and relaxes repeatedly, which helps to improve blood circulation, which in turn serves to: Relax the muscle.

Can a TENS unit be used for lactation?

Most TENS Units are either single channel (two electrodes) or they have two channels (two pairs of electrodes). For lactation purposes, you can use a TENS unit to stimulate the nerves in your breasts.

When is it safe to use tens electrodes?

Do not use TENS if you have undiagnosed pain and a history of cancer in the last 5 years. Epilepsy. Do not apply electrodes to your head, neck or shoulders. The impulses could cause seizures.

What does tens stand for in medical terms?

TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, and is most commonly used to stimulate nerves and muscles to alleviate pain. The TENS unit is a device that produces a very low electric current that flows from one electrode to the other electrode of the same channel.

How often should I Turn On my TENS unit?

You will still need to continue your regular schedule, it is only meant to stimulate when you are not able to. For maximum benefit, turn on the TENS for 15-20 minutes every two hours. Most units now are preprogrammed to shut off automatically after 20 minutes.