|
What
is Pain?
Pain is the body's warning system and is intended
to prevent additional injury. Pain is important because, without it, vital
parts of our bodies might be damaged or injured without our knowledge.
However, long-lasting, presistent pain, often called chronic pain, once
diagnosed serves no apparent purpose. TENS is developed to help relieve
some types of chronic and acute pain.
How does TENS work?
TENS, or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation,
means the transmission of small electrical pulses through the skin to
the underlying peripheral nerves. TENS is thought to work in two different
ways.
First, "high frequency" continuous,
mild, electrical activity may block the pain signal traveling to the brain.
Brain cells perceive pain. If the pain signal
does not get through to the brain, the pain is not "felt".
The second way TENS is thought to work is by stimulating
the body's own natural pain-control mechanism. "Low frequency"
or short bursts of mild, electrical activity may cause the body to release
its own pain easers, called beta endorphins. Ask your doctor or clinician
for more details.
No matter what pain theory is applied, TENS has
been proven useful in pain management for many pain patients.
|