The easiest way to make sure you’re utilizing your TENS unit for again ache appropriately is to talk with a medical skilled. Any respected machine ought to include intensive directions—and this isn’t an occasion the place you need to skip the instruction handbook. “TENS is a comparatively protected therapy, as long as these directions are adopted,” Starkey confirms.
That stated, earlier than you resolve to cost up your TENS unit, Starkey says you’ll need to be sure to have an understanding of the place your ache is coming from. “It’s cliché, however TENS (or anything) shouldn’t be used to deal with ache of unknown origin or used for greater than two weeks with out being examined by a medical skilled.”
As for pad placement throughout sensory degree ache management (no muscle contraction), Starkey recommends an “X” sample with the painful space on the heart of the X. The electrodes on every set of wires ought to be positioned in order that the present crosses over the realm in ache.
By way of frequency of use, “Sensory-level ache management can be utilized for days at a time,” Starkey advises. He recommends shifting the electrodes barely with every use to keep away from irritation from the adhesive.
The TENS unit ought to really feel like a tingle or buzz that steadily will increase in depth to a pointy, prickly sensation. If the TENS therapy is profitable, it’s best to really feel some ache reduction throughout the first half-hour of therapy. If it’s not profitable, change the electrode placements and check out once more. And should you’re looking for 24-hour ache management, transportable models are finest.
