TRANSCUTANEOUS ELECTRICAL

NERVE STIMULATION(TENS)

By: Taha Ahmed Khan

DPT BATCH IV
TENS:
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a therapy
that uses low-voltage electrical current for pain relief.
 TENS is a method of electrical stimulation which primarily aims
to provide a degree of symptomatic pain relief by exciting sensory
nerves and thereby stimulating either the pain gate mechanism
and/or the opioid system. 
PAIN PATHWAY:
 PAIN THEORIES:
1) SPECIFICITY THEORY: Suggest that each sensation has its
own receptors which respond only to a particular stimulus and that
has its own routes of transmission through the CNS and centre of
registration ,appreciation and interpretation in the brain.
2) INTENSITY THEORY: Suggests that a stimulus of any kind, if
great enough, gives rise to pain, that pain is merely due to the
intensity of the stimulus involved of breaking a certain threshold.
3) GATE CONTROL THEORY: The gate control theory of pain
asserts that non-painful input closes the "gates" to painful input,
which prevents pain sensation from traveling to the central nervous
system. Therefore, stimulation by non-noxious input is able to
suppress pain.
 TENS USED FOR
People use TENS to relieve pain for several different types of illnesses
and conditions. They use it most often to treat muscle, joint, or bone
problems that occur with illnesses such as osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia,
or for conditions such as low back pain, neck , or bursitis. People have
also used TENS to treat sudden (acute) pain, such as labor pain, and
long-lasting (chronic) pain, such as cancer pain.
 INDICATIONS:
 Musculoskeletal pain

 Chronic low back pain

 Painful diabetic neuropathy

 Neuropathic pain 

 Visceral pain
 CONTRAINDICATIONS:
 Pacemakers.
 Malignancy.
 Over carotid sinus.
 Pregnancy.
 Active infections, skin conditions.
 Areas over impaired or absent sensation.
 Cardiac conditions --- Arrythmias.
 Neurological Conditions(epilepsy, Stroke)
 Non Cooperative patients.
 HOW TO USE TENS:
 Test the battery pack of the TENS unit to make sure it is fully charged. The
TENS unit has 2 control knobs. One control knob makes the electrical signals
strong or weak. The other control knob makes the electrical signals fast or
slow. Turn the control knobs to the off position before you start.
 Use rubbing alcohol to clean the skin where the electrodes will be placed.
Let your skin dry.
 Put a thin coat of gel on the bottom of each electrode. This gel helps the
electrical signal get to the nerves under your skin.
 Put the electrodes on your skin and use medical tape or a sticky patch to
cover the electrode. This keeps the electrode firmly stuck to the skin. Ask for
help if you cannot reach the area where the electrodes should go.
 Hook the pin connectors on the end of the electrode wires to the
electrodes. Then plug the electrode wires into the TENS unit.
 Turn the control knobs slowly to the correct setting. You should feel a
tingling feeling
Hook the TENS unit to your belt or place it in a pocket.
 THE MODES AND
METHODS OF TENS: