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TENS Treatment Protocol

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a form of physical therapy that uses electrical stimulation to numb areas of the body for pain management. TENS uses a specific kind of machine and is often used for arthritis sufferers, and those with lower back pain and postsurgical pain. Nerves are stimulated through the skin to excite the opioid nervous system and reduce discomfort.

  1. Equipment

    • TENS machines are portable and inexpensive to operate. Though most TENS machines are only available in doctor's offices, they can be purchased for home use. The machine is a battery-operated device about the size of a small tape recorder that comes with an AC adapter; the attached electrodes are placed on the skin over the affected area. The ends of the wires are placed under sticky pads, which in turn are placed on the skin. Small currents of electricity are transmitted through the leads.

    Frequencies

    • Pain management through conventional TENS protocols varies from individual to individual and on different parts of the body. For most patients, the higher frequencies used in the treatment protocol seem to have the best results. Frequencies between 90 and 130 are recommended. Steady pulse widths should range between 80 and 120, allowing the patient to guide the treating physician to levels that result in the most comfort. Patients at home will discover through experimentation which settings produce the best results.

    Bursts

    • For more concentrated treatments, the burst protocol is used with some patients in lieu of steady streams of electrical impulse. Bursts of electricity are shot through the leads in levels of seven to nine pulses at a time at frequencies of about 150. Practitioners often refer to the burst protocol as electronic acupuncture.

    Modulation

    • A modulation protocol involves a combination of conventional and burst protocols to prevent the nerves from becoming accustomed to the stimulation and eventually negating the treatments. TENS machines can be set to deliver the pulses at various settings. Modulation protocols are recommended for long-term use and more effective treatment.

    Other Uses

    • Patients in a study at the National Institutes ofHealth who suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were treated with TENS for 45 minutes to see if the treatment helped relieve the symptoms. Leads were placed on the patients' backs just behind their lungs and left in place, emitting a solid stream of electricity for three-quarters of an hour. The patients receiving the TENS treatment were measurably able to breathe easier following the protocol than those who received a placebo with no electricity sent through the wires.

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