Working in the garden was a lot of fun, until shoveling the last load of soil into the wheelbarrow sent your lower back into spasms. That was just the beginning. In your quest for pain relief, using the heat/cold method of lessening the pain was where you began. It was not until much later that you came upon the TENS Unit for easing pain.
TENS is an acronym for an electrical treatment which sound much scarier than it actually is. With TENS, sticky tabs are placed on the skin around the painful area. When the device is switched on, it applies a slight bit of electricity through the electrodes to the skin and the area just under the skin. Using TENS feels tingly. It is a strange sensation. The intensity can be set high enough to make a muscle twitch.
Sometimes this "pain machine" is confused with the one that is used to prevent atrophy of a muscle. They are not the same thing, although the pain device is capable of eliciting a muscle twitch if set at a high enough setting.
The object of this unit is to disrupt the pathways of pain sensations and allow muscles to heal. Endorphins can also be let loose in your system, to act as painkillers. The resulting good feelings can often last for many hours. There have not been found to be any side effects, other than a feeling of well-being. Personal home units are meant to be worn for lengthy periods of time. They are applied easily and do not normally interfere with anything you find yourself doing.
There are, however, certain restrictions on the use of these devices. They are a no-no if you are with child, as they can potentially harm your baby. If you suffer from cancer, do not attempt the use of the device. The breast and heart area should be avoided, and if a pacemaker is part of your health management, skip the TENS. Occasionally there may be slight skin irritation, but this is short-lived, if it does occur.
Because they are so easy to use, the units can be bought online. Of course, you must first see your doctor for a prescription, if he determines that you actually would benefit from it. A physical therapist can determine for you the correct setting that will help you the most, and be safe. Trying out a few settings around that which is determined by your health professional, is often desired.
Many times, athletes make good use of the "pain machine" after strenuous activities. These people are usually trained well enough to avoid actual injury, but strains can and do occur. Week end warriors of the couch potato kind often start out on a new exercise routine and overdue it right out of the gate. Physical therapists can help these poor aching souls to find the correct setting for their needs.
The important thing to do when considering the use of the TENS unit, is to consult your primary care physician initially. Follow up with recommended treatments from a physical therapist.
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Providing highly effective ways to heal what ails your muscles and tendons, we have an array of products in EMS, muscle stim and TENS.
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