Bursitis
Inflammation of a bursa. (A bursa is a sac filled with lubricating fluid, and situated at places in the tissues where friction would otherwise develop.)

CNS
Central Nervous System. Comprising the brain and spinal cord.

Electrical Stimulation (Also electro stimulation.)
Any type of electrical current or charge that is applied to the body for its beneficial results.

Endorphin
Morphine-like substance occurring naturally in the body.

Gating Effect
A theory of pain relief where non-painful stimulation closes ÔgatesÕ in the CNS to the perception of pain.

Inflammation
A localized protective response elicited by injury or destruction of tissues, which serves to destroy, dilute or wall off both the injurious agent and the injured tissue. Typically characterized by pain, heat, redness, swelling and loss of function.

Motor Nerves
Nerves transmitting information from the brain to the muscles.

NMS
Neuro Muscular Stimulation. Stimulation of the muscles by stimulating the motor nerves electrically.

EMS
Electrical Muscle Stimulation. (See NMS).

EME
Electrical Muscle Exercise. (See NMS).

PPS
Pulses Per Second

Sensory Nerves
Nerves transmitting information from the skin, joints, muscles and organs back to the brain.

Tendonitis
Inflammation of a tendon.

TENS
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. Stimulation of the nerves by electrical impulses applied across the skin.

Transcutaneous
Across the skin.

TMJ
Tempero Mandibular Joint. The joint at the side of the head (just in front of the ear), where the jaw bone articulates with the skull.

3X per day
Three times per day. (Also 2X, 1X etc.)

Electrosleep
A term originally used for a specific type of electrical stimulation, known for inducing sleep, but now used interchangeably with electrical stimulation.

Cranial Electro Stimulation (CES)
When one electrode is placed on either side of the head. Some commentators believe this technique has a direct affect on the brain, but this seems highly unlikely. The most probable pathway is through the sensory nerves of the head and then to the brain - which is the normal course of all sensory input. This explanation also accounts for the fact that sedative stimulation works when electrodes are placed wrist to wrist.

Mastoid bone / Mastoid process
The bony process just behind the ear, typically the point at which electrodes are placed for CES (although ear to ear stimulation is just as valid).

Nalaxaone
An opiate antagonist - a chemical agent that reverses the effect of opiates (heroin, morphine, and endorphins). If nalaxone can reverse the pain relief caused by electrical stimulation, it is strongly indicative that endorphins (the body's natural pain killing hormone) are involved.

Back to Top