Nerve Stimulation Therapy

Nerve stimulation therapy is a passive and non-invasive treatment method for acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain, which is most frequently delivered using a TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) unit: a small battery operated device that stimulates the nerves via low-voltage electrical currents.The TENS unit works by sending signals to the brain, which results in the disruption of the patient’s normal feelings of pain in the treatment area. TENS therapy has no known side effects, and is believed to also work by stimulating the body's production of endorphins or natural pain killers.

The TENS treatment process begins with the attachment of small electrodes on the targeted area(s) of the patient’s body, followed by electrical stimulation of the nerves for the duration of the treatment cycle. TENS therapy generally causes little discomfort to patients and is applied for 15 minutes or less, per treatment session. TENS is a very effective method for providing short term pain relief to physical therapy patients, and also speeds up the healing process for injuries, by improving circulation and blood flow.

Topical steroid medications may also be delivered using a TENS device, in a treatment process known as Iontophoresis. With this procedure, the current produced by the TENS unit pushes the medication into the soft tissuelayer of the patient’s body, helping to reduce inflammation and pain.

Patients should know that for safety reasons, TENS therapy cannot be applied over the eyes, over a tumor, through the chest, on broken skin or directly over the spinal cord. In addition,patients with pacemakers and womenwho are in the first weeks of pregnancy, should consult with their primary physician before receiving TENS therapy.

Nerve stimulation therapy is a very common type of treatment that is used by physical therapists to treat patients with musculoskeletal pain, caused by conditions and diseases such as: adhesive capsulitis, acute injuries, arthritis, bursitis, cancer pain, chronic back pain, chronic neck pain,diabetic neuropathy, frozen shoulder, migraine headaches, osteoarthritis, pain from surgery or childbirth and other discomforts and diseases.