Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a method of pain relief involving the use of a mild electrical current.

A TENS machine is a small, battery-operated device that has leads connected to sticky pads called electrodes.

You attach the pads directly to your skin. When the machine is switched on, small electrical impulses are delivered to the affected area of your body, which you feel as a tingling sensation.

The electrical impulses can reduce the pain signals going to the spinal cord and brain, which may help relieve pain and relax muscles. They may also stimulate the production of endorphins, which are the body's natural painkillers.

What TENS is used for

TENS may be able to help reduce pain and muscle spasms caused by a wide range of conditions including:

• arthritis
• period pain
• pelvic pain caused by endometriosis
• knee pain
• sports injuries

It's also sometimes used as a method of pain relief during labour.

Does TENS work?

There's not enough good-quality scientific evidence to say for sure whether TENS is a reliable method of pain relief. More research is needed and clinical trials are ongoing.

Healthcare professionals have reported that it seems to help some people, although how well it works depends on the individual and the condition being treated.

TENS is not a cure for pain and often only provides short-term relief while the TENS machine is being used.

However, the treatment is generally very safe and you may feel it's worth trying instead of, or in addition to,the usual medical treatments.

Trying TENS

TENS is not safe for everyone to use. Do not use it without first getting medical advice if:

• you have a pace maker or another type of electrical or metal implant in your body
• you're pregnant, or there's a chance you might be pregnant – TENS may not be recommended early in pregnancy
• you have epilepsy or a heart problem
• you have an overactive bladder

What is ultrasound therapy - Ultrasound is a high frequency soundwave which produces a fine vibration of the cells in the body. This soundwave is the production of mechanical energy created by the vibration of a quartz crystal, which is situated inside the head of the treatment machine. It can help with the body’s own natural healing processes and encourages healing in the soft tissues. This is therapeutic ultrasound (for healing) and different to that used during pregnancy.

What will it involve? Gel will be applied either over the area to be treated or over the treatment head of the machine to help maintain contact between the treatment head and the treatment area. This may feel cold. Once the machine is switched on you will probably only feel the pressure of the therapist moving the treatment head over your skin. In some circumstances, you may feel a light vibration or a slight warmth. This treatment should not be painful. Please inform your therapist if you feel any increase in your symptoms. Dependent on the area to be treated, there are other ways to apply the treatment. These will be discussed with you by your therapist as necessary.

What are the benefits? The ultrasound energy is absorbed by the injured tissues, causing cells within the tissue to vibrate. This has the following effect:

• It speeds the rate of healing, by increasing the cellular activity.

• It promotes a healthy inflammatory response to allow effective repair of the damaged tissue.

• It encourages the production of repair tissue.

• It promotes remodelling of the new tissue so that it adopts the characteristics of the tissue it is repairing.

What conditions can it be used for? The soundwaves are absorbed the most in tissue with a high protein level i.e. collagen. The following tissues are examples of this:

• Tendons, e.g. for tendinopathy.

• Ligaments, e.g. for ligament sprains.

• The joint capsule, e.g. for capsulitis.

• Scar tissue, e.g. for mobilising restrictive scar tissue.

Kinesio Tape also called K-Tape, is the original elastic adhesive tape developed by Dr. Kenzo Kase in the early 1970s.

Kinesio Tape is safe enough for a baby’s sensitive skin, and gentle enough for aging individuals, flexible enough for rehabilitation, durable enough to support working muscle, joint or ligament and strong enough for athletes at any level.

In cases when the tape is applied by practitioners the tape provides optimized stimulation based on space, movement, and cooling which allows the body’s natural healing power is able to do its work.