The Basics of Using TENS: Treatment Duration

Treatment Duration

STOPWATCH There is no hard and fast rule for the length of time for which TENS is applied - personal preference should be the guide. Some people use their TENS for 15 minutes before they get out of bed in the morning, and others use it all day and night to relieve severe, chronic pain.

Rule of Thumb
Use your TENS for one hour, then turn it off and see how long the pain relief lasts. Re-apply the TENS for another dose of one hour when pain levels start to increase. Using this method, you will receive the exact dosage you require for adequate pain relief for your particular injury or condition. If you do not get adequate pain relief with a one-hour dose, apply the TENS for two hours and use the same system as above.

Pre-emptive Doses
Many people will know when their next bout of pain is likely to occur, and this being the case, they can apply a one-hour dose of TENS before the onset of the pain. In this way, pain can be minimised or even avoided altogether. For those with long-term pain from chronic conditions, breaking the pain cycle like this often enough can lead to a permanent reduction in overall pain levels (known as 'unlearning' pain).

3L Stimulation
Many TENS users have tried this particular method with great success. It is particularly useful for those with chronic, painful conditions like arthritis. In fact, many people use this setting while in bed, finding it very useful for helping them get to sleep. 3L stands for LOW pulse rate, LOW intensity and LONG duration of use. Set the rate dial to 'L', the intensity dial to a level where you can just feel the pulses tingling (around 2 on the dial), and use the TENS for at least two hours at a time. Re-apply as necessary.