

Without pain, muscles relax, and healing takes place. The pulses also cause the body to produce endorphins, which are the body's natural pain relievers. The electrical impulses, delivered through adhesive pads on a user's skin, flood the nervous system, which reduces its ability to transmit pain signals to the brain. TENS therapy has consistently proven effective for pain relief in clinical studies, and users swear by it.

Stimulating nerves in your body reduces pain.
Tinge unit for pain skin#
A TENS device administers electric current through conductive gel and electrodes attached to the skin to stimulate nerves. While that might sound a bit scary, the electronic pulses are very mild and therapeutic. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a treatment that administers mild electrical currents to the skin to relieve pain.TENS stands for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. A small, lightweight, hand-held, battery-operated device produces the electrical currents and lead wires send these currents to self-adhesive electrode pads that attach to your skin. While using a TENS machine, you'll experience a non-painful tingling or buzzing sensation, and this can help to block or suppress pain messages. Two electrode pads are usually positioned either side of the area of most intense pain. This is done so that the TENS sensation covers the painful area.įour electrode pads can be used to treat a larger area of pain. You'll be able to control the strength, (or ‘volume’) of the current that's passed through the electrodes, with a rotary knob or dial. Some machines have larger controls that are easier to use if your hand movements are limited.Īdjust the strength of the current until the tingling sensation from TENS is strong, but not painful. You'll also be able to adjust the pattern and speed of the current, so that the TENS sensation is as comfortable as possible. Don't use a TENS machine if you have a pacemaker or other implanted electrical device.Check with your doctor or physiotherapist to make sure that using a TENS machine is a safe option for you.TENS has minimal risks or side effects if the following precautions are followed: Many TENS machines are digital and have helpful pre-sets to help you choose the best settings for your pain. You should check with your physiotherapist that TENS is a safe option for your pain if you have epilepsy, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), heart problems, cancer or skin that is numb, irritated or fragile.

Tinge unit for pain how to#
Your physiotherapist can show you how to use the machine properly and will get you to try TENS for a few hours a day until you get used to it. You may be able to borrow one for a specified period of time.Īfter this, you'll be encouraged to use TENS regularly throughout the day, whenever you need pain relief. This is because the effects can be short-lived, although can last for hours after use.
