Tens Machine Treatment
What is the benefit of this treatment?
TENS, or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, is a therapeutic device that sends low-voltage electrical impulses through the skin to various parts of the body.
The TENS machine operates on several levels to alleviate pain:
Interfering with Pain Messages: It stimulates non-pain carrying nerves to block or interfere with pain messages transmitted to the brain, thus altering the perception of pain.
Triggering Analgesic Effects: TENS activates specific points in the muscle that can produce analgesic effects, similar to pain relief medications.
Endorphin Production: The device stimulates the body to produce endorphins, natural painkillers, which block pain signals from reaching the brain.
Improving Blood Flow: It increases blood flow to the site of pain, addressing soreness and promoting healing where there is reduced local blood circulation.
Breaking the Pain Cycle: With continued use, TENS can help the body learn to ‘not feel the pain’, effectively breaking the cycle of chronic pain.
Why Use a TENS machine?
TENS is versatile and used to treat a range of both acute and chronic pain conditions, including:
- Delayed onset muscle soreness
- Stress-related pain
- Tennis elbow and knee pain
- Labor and period pain
- Acute/chronic neck and back pain
- Sciatica
- Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia
Physical pain often leads to the avoidance of using affected muscles, resulting in muscle stiffness, soreness, and loss of function. TENS therapy helps reduce the perception of pain, release muscle tension, encourage relaxation, increase blood flow, stimulate nerves, activate muscle contractions, and correct muscle firing patterns.
Myotherapy and TENS Machine Treatment
In a myotherapy setting, TENS is often used in conjunction with other modalities for a more holistic treatment approach.
A myotherapist can integrate TENS therapy with corrective posture techniques, trigger point deactivation, and prescribing specific exercises and muscle strengthening routines to accelerate the healing process.
This combination ensures not just symptomatic relief but also addresses the root cause of pain, promoting long-term recovery and pain management.
