TENS
TENS units are small, battery-powered devices through which electrical impulses
are transmitted to nerve fibers. Electrodes attached to the patient’s
skin deliver the small amount of current. Fittingly, TENS stands for “transcutaneous
electrical nerve stimulation.”
The TENS unit can help with neck and back pain, arthritis, headaches, TMJ and
other disorders. It works by activating the release of endorphins, which are
natural chemicals in the body that help relieve pain. In addition, the electrical
stimulation of nerve fibers is believed to keep indicators of pain from reaching
the brain.
While practitioners use TENS units as part of their protocols, patients also can purchase the devices. There are several types of TENS devices available, including products such as V-TENS, Twin Stim, BioStim, Maxima, Kindling 2000s, Combi-2 EMS 2000, Wellness Pro and Mini-Tens.
(SOURCE: HealthCentral.com)