A transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit is a battery-operated device that some people use to treat pain.
TENS units work by delivering small electrical impulses through electrodes that have adhesive pads to attach them to a person’s skin.
These electrical impulses flood the nervous system, reducing its ability to transmit pain signals to the spinal cord and brain.
The same electrical impulses also stimulate the body to produce natural pain relievers called endorphins.
In this article, learn more about the uses of a TENS machine and the research on its effectiveness.
TENS units may help treat the following symptoms:
- period pain
- labor pain
- postoperative pain
- joint pain
- neck and back pain
They may also alleviate pain that results from the following conditions:
- endometriosis
- arthritis
- sports injuries
- multiple sclerosis
- fibromyalgia
- painful diabetic neuropathy
- spinal cord injury
A TENS unit has controls that allow people to administer an appropriate level of pain relief. People can achieve this by altering the following aspects of the electrical current:
Intensity: A dial allows the user to adjust the intensity of the electrical stimulation.
