Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy involves the use of low-voltage electric currents to treat pain. A small device delivers the current at or near nerves. TENS therapy blocks or changes your perception of pain.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.
There are two theories about how transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) works. One theory is that the electric current stimulates nerve cells that block the transmission of pain signals, modifying your perception of pain. The other theory is that nerve stimulation raises the level of endorphins, which are the body’s natural pain-killing chemical. The endorphins then block the perception of pain.
Different uses of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
The most common conditions for which TENS has been used include:
- Osteoarthritis (disease of the joints)
- Fibromyalgia (aching and pain in muscles, tendons, and joints all over the body, especially along the spine
- Tendinitis (an inflammation or irritation of a tendon).
- Bursitis (inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that cushion joints).
- Labor pain
- Low back pain
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Diabetes-related neuropathy (damage to the nerves that connect the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body)
- Peripheral artery disease (“hardening of the arteries” that circulate blood to the body)
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Muscle Pain/Stiffness
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) machines tend mainly to be used to help reduce pain from problems in muscles, joints and nerves (so-called musculoskeletal pain). They may work better for these problems than for tummy (abdominal), chest or head pains. Unlike a lot of medication there are virtually no side-effects when using a TENS machine.Muscle knots and muscle tightness/Stiffness can be painful and sometimes debilitating, limiting range of motion and lasting for days or weeks if not not treated with the right techniques. Knots in the muscles are generally caused by strain, overworking of your muscles, or pain (read on to find out how). But there's good news! You can get rid of muscle knots using several different methods including TENS therapy. That's right, TENS machines can be used to relieve muscle knots and tightness due to its relaxation effects on your muscles. If you are suffering from knots, tightness or stiffness in your muscles, using TENS treatment regimens can relieve pain and even speed up recovery times.
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) can treat muscle knots by relieving pain. When muscle pain is relieved, the muscle knots begin to loosen because the guarding reaction is no longer triggered. Muscle knot treatment is even more effective when used in conjunction with a stretching routine. This can both relieve the knot and tightness and improve range of motion, according to studies.
How Does Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) relieve muscle pains, knots, tightness and stiffness
According to studies, TENS helps relieve muscle knots, muscle tightness, soreness and even spasms with its pain alleviating effects. When muscles are injured or in pain, a phenomena known as muscle guarding occurs. Muscle guarding is when muscles surrounding the injuring tighten up to protect the area from further harm and facilitate healing. Since TENS eases pain and creates endorphin flow, it can switch this response off, reducing muscle tightness and knots. The pain-reducing effects help loosen the muscle knot and curtail the "guarding" reaction that causes tightness. Endorphins released by therapeutic TENS devices also help reduce knot formation.
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Blood Pressure
Hypertension is a major risk factor for development of several vascular complications and is common world wide. Drug treatment is often necessary to achieve adequate blood pressure reduction but blood pressure control in studied countries is unsatisfactory low. Reasons for failure in treatment are several. Among others reasons intolerable side-effects may prevent successful treatment irrespective of the number of drugs.Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) constitutes no risk of interaction with pharmacological agents and previous studies have reported blood pressure reduction.
Conclusion:
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation is known to ease up muscle pain, knots,tightness and stiffness. It is proven to relieve the pain for several years now. New studies has been made and is continuously on trial to lower blood pressure as well.
References:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323032#interactions-for-tramadol
https://tensunits.com/blogs/blog/muscle-knots-muscle-tightness-facts-treatment-options