Pain Therapy (TENS)

Pain is a meaningful warning signal of our body. It shows if something isn’t correct and protects our organism from harmful influences of the outside. Long continuous pain or pain without a direct influence have lost its meaning, however, and must be treated.

The first treatment using electrical current was carried out around 2500 BC in Egypt. At that time they used electric sheatfish for the treatment of pain relief. The results obtained from this treatment were quite astonishing bearing in mind that science concluded the physiological basis for this treatment in the 19th century.

The Gate-Control Theory which was first published by Melzack and Wall in the 20th century formed the basis for the neurophysiological understanding and the first treatment of pain relief with the aid of highly frequenced TENS as it is applied today. TENS as a scientifically recognised method for pain relief therapy is a suitable aid for pain for many doctors. The stimulating electrical current impulses being produced by the stimulator is transferred from the electrodes to the skins nerve fibres. The effect of pain relief begins at the start of the application and also usually prolongs after the stimulation period. This achievement is due to two different mechanisms:

Gate-Control-Effect:
The pain is transferred over the nerve fibres from the body to the brain. There the pain is perceived. By stimulus of the nerves the stimulator prevents further transmission of the pain signals to the brain. The pain sensation can so be eased or inhibited.
Beta-endorphins-release:
The TENS-therapy stimulates the synthesis and release of beta-endorphins. Beta-endorphins are bodily synthesized peptides, which have a similar effect as morphine for pain relief, but without the side effects of morphine (e.g. breathing depression).

TENS is available in three different treatment modes.