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TENS Machine & Magnetic Pulse Therapy for Arthritis in the Knee

A TENS machine is classified under technologies that are used for pain relief. Arthritis is a painful inflammation of the musculoskeletal system that has its roots in the autoimmune system of the body. It is a degenerative disease and the condition gets worse over time, as it spreads throughout your bone structure. Arthritis isn't curable, so treatments, including TENS machine treatments, focus primarily on pain and symptom management.

  1. TENS as an Arthritis Treatment

    • The conventional methods of treatment for arthritis include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, physical or occupation therapy and surgery. The TENS machine is considered a form of alternative treatment and should be tried in conjunction with, or as an alternative to, traditional pain medication only after careful research and consultation with your doctor.

      TENS is short for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. The treatment is administered using a machine that is made up of one or more electrical generators, a set of electrodes and a battery. The machine is a programmable device, and its generators enable it to transmit electronic stimuli with varied pulse rates, pulse widths and current strengths.

    How TENS Works

    • TENS therapy is used as a pain-killing technique in patients with arthritis in the knee and other parts of the body. TENS is done with differing intensities and frequencies, and you will get to choose the one that offers maximum pain relief for your knee. The system usually works on pressure joints, trigger points and cutaneous nerves within the body, Thus, according to a study "Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation" by Dr. Vladimir Kaye, TENS is better suited for arthritis in other parts of the body and is somewhat less effective in treating arthritis of the knee, since the inflammation and pain in the knee is caused by problems with the knee bone structure and is localized.

      TENS also has another major drawback. It offers greater relief initially, but the same study conducted by Kaye suggests that, over time, its ability to heal starts diminishing. TENS is most useful in treating light to moderate pain; if you are suffering from chronic knee arthritis, you may be experiencing more intense pain.

    Magnetic Therapy

    • Magnetic pulse therapy is related to TENS therapy but is better suited for arthritis of the knee. Unlike a TENS machine, magnetic pulse therapy relies on the use of magnets to absorb pain. These magnets are connected to points in the body that have pain. Since magnetic pulse therapy is more targeted toward different sorts of pain and doesn't rely on the use of pressure points, it may be more effective for arthritis of the knee, according to "Magnetic Pulse Therapy Reduces Knee Osteoarthritis Pain" by Elda Hauschildt .

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