Using TENS to Relieve Pain | July '99 Newsletter

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

Cover Story

Introduction

Electrical Pain Relief

TENS Pain Management Applications

Environments of Use

TENS vs Acupuncture

Tables of TENS Use

Effective Pain Relief Without Drugs

Selection of the Stimulator

Selection of the Application Electrodes

Contra-Indications to TENS use

Conclusion

SELECTION OF THE STIMULATOR

To have precise control over TENS applications, the system selected should have:

Soft turn ON.
An intensity control to each output.
Pulse rate selection.
Pulse mode selection of either constant or modulated.
Electrostatic pulse charges (net zero direct current).
Alternating pulse charge polarity (bi-phasic pulses).
Equal stimulation from both electrodes
(symmetrical alternating pulses).
The appropriate stimulation applicators for use on the skin.

An Indication of TENS Pulse Charge Used
To give an indication of the miniscule amount of power required to stimulate nerves, we only have to look at the heart pacemaker (which is in fact, an electrical muscle stimulator). This device, fitted with its 3-volt, 3-ampere disposable battery, will run continuously for 24 hours a day over a 15-year period.

Miniscule Pulse Charge
Each pulse generally has a time period (pulse width) of less than 200 microseconds, which for each pulse has a duration of 1/5000 of a second. Using a pulse rate of 5 pulses per second (pps), the time that the pulses are placed upon on each electrode is only for 1.8 pps during a one hour application, or for 43 seconds over a 24 hour application.

Additionally, unlike most TENS devices, all BioStim™ equipment uses capacitance charge-discharge pulses, with which the current does not flow into the body and then come out through its opposing electrode. There is no direct current, as the stimulating charges are placed upon the skin and then withdrawn via the same lead as they were applied. With pulse charge-discharge stimulation, most of the electrostatic pulse-charge energy is wasted back to neutral within the stimulator.

Not all TENS are the Same
The quality of TENS devices greatly varies in their effectiveness of therapy, cost, comfort and ease of use. Should a low cost TENS system prove to be therapeutically ineffective, it is possible that a higher quality TENS system will be more effective at relieving pain, where the lower quality model has failed.

High quality equipment contributes to a person's compliance with the treatment and the quality of life they are able to achieve.

The use of optimally designed modern TENS equipment provides the lowest cost, time saving and most efficient method of applying electrical therapy available today.

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