TENS device

Before purchasing a TENS device, it is worth informing yourself thoroughly and choosing carefully, as a good device can provide useful help for 8-10 years or even longer. I recommend reading this guide carefully as it contains the most important information needed for decision making. You can also watch the film by Dr. Zsolt Zátrok, just click the play button.

What is a TENS device?

The TENS device is a medical device designed for home use, developed to reduce and eliminate pain of various origins. Its effect is similar to that of pain relief medication, meaning it temporarily eliminates the sensation of pain, but its great advantage is that it has no side effects. The treatment can be repeated as needed, even 3 times or more per day.

TENS treatment has few contraindications. You can find out the most important ones here.

The TENS device induces pain relief by mild electrical impulses. The impulses act on nerve endings through electrodes attached to the skin and reduce or eliminate pain. You can read about the practical application of TENS treatment here.

The electrical impulses delivered by the TENS device create a "pricking" sensation. The sensation intensifies with increased current intensity.

TENS impulses with different frequencies act differently

• High frequencies have a direct pain relief effect. They stop the transmission of pain signals along the nerve pathways to the brain. If the pain signal does not reach the brain, the sensation of pain does not develop.
• Low frequencies act indirectly, enhancing the production of endorphins. These substances are produced by the body itself and have a very strong natural pain-relieving effect, blocking the transmission of pain signals from nerve cell to nerve cell.

Which diseases' pain can you reduce with the TENS device?

• arthritis
• joint wear (arthrosis)
• neck, back and lower back pain, including symptoms of herniated discs, lumbago, sciatica
• muscle injury (strain, bruise, sprain, etc.)
• joint ligaments (tears, overstretching, etc.)
• tendon inflammation (Achilles, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome)
• heel spur
• diabetic neuropathic pain
• postoperative pain
• fibromyalgia pain
• menstrual discomfort
• pelvic pain caused by endometriosis
• and many other conditions.

The TENS device can be used alone or as a complementary therapy alongside other pain relief methods – in which case the effects add up, meaning you may need less medication.

The number of channels of a TENS device indicates the expected performance

As mentioned earlier, the TENS device achieves pain relief through electrical impulses. To deliver the impulse from the device to the painful area, you need cables and self-adhesive TENS electrodes (also called pads). One pair of electrodes (one cable and its two ends) represents one treatment channel.

The expected performance of a device can also be assessed by the number of channels. For home use, 1-, 2-, and 4-channel devices are available. A one-channel device uses 2 electrodes, a two-channel device 4 electrodes, and a four-channel device uses 8 self-adhesive electrodes. With devices with more channels, larger areas of pain can be treated simultaneously.

How many channels should you choose for your TENS device?

Consider your situation! On which part of your body do you feel pain? How large is the painful area? Is it on one or both sides?

Here are some examples to help you determine the necessary number of channels:
If you have a stiff neck and the pain is felt over a palm-sized area, a one-channel device might be sufficient. If your knee hurts, one channel can treat only one side of the knee at a time, so you have to repeat the treatment on the other side.

A two-channel device allows you to treat both sides of the knee simultaneously. However, if both knees hurt, with a two-channel device you must first treat one side, then the other, doubling the time required. With a four-channel TENS device, you can treat both knees at the same time.

Another example: if your back hurts from the neck to the waist, with a one-channel device you have to perform 4-5 consecutive treatments to cover the entire area. That means by the time you treat the waist area, the pain relief effect on your neck has already worn off. With a two-channel device, you need to repeat the treatment 2-3 times: upper back, middle back, and lower back. With a four-channel device, however, you can treat the entire area at once.

Recommendation

In our opinion, buying a one-channel TENS device is no longer worthwhile. A two-channel device is recommended if the treatment area covers less than two palm-sized areas and is one-sided.

The most enduring decision is to choose a four-channel device. With a 4-channel device, it is not "mandatory" to always use all channels. If your pain affects only a small area, you can use just one channel. But if your whole back hurts or both hips on each side, a 4-channel TENS device has no limits!

I have a TENS device, which program should I use?

A TENS device usually includes multiple programs. This is because different types of pain and body parts require impulses of different shapes, durations, frequencies, and intensities. This has been determined through decades of medical use. Therefore, you should select the program according to the body part and treatment purpose.

Cheap devices typically provide only one type of TENS program, which can be chosen by body area (e.g., arms, abdomen, thighs, calves, buttocks, back, neck). If a device offers 9 programs, it simply means one pain treatment program with nine different settings adjusted to body areas.

Most devices offer constant high-frequency (traditional) or constant low-frequency (endorphin) TENS programs. These can be used for any type of pain and on any body part.

However, due to the constant frequency, most people develop habituation - the good effect during the first treatments decreases after a few days and then disappears. This is why buyers of cheap devices often consider the device ineffective after a while. However, it is not the TENS method that is ineffective but rather the device choice was inappropriate!

It is important to know that there is no single "magic frequency" that works equally for all pain, all body parts, and all people! Every person is different, so the frequency that provides you effective pain relief might differ from what is set on the device or what works for your partner, friend, or neighbor! It's worthwhile to choose a device that allows individual adjustment of the most important features (at least frequency). This way, you can find the most effective value for you.

Modern TENS devices offer MODULATED TENS programs to prevent habituation. Their effect does not diminish, so they can be used for pains that persist for a long time.

If your device manual does not mention "modulated TENS", you can expect only a short-lasting effect. Such a device is not suitable for pains caused by arthrosis, arthritis, rheumatism, etc. Old type TENS devices can still help for pains requiring only a few treatments: e.g., stiff neck, ankle sprain, muscle bruise, toothache, etc. In these cases, the cause of pain disappears within 2-3 days and no habituation develops during this period.

However, if you want to relieve chronic, recurrent pains, buy only a device that provides modulated TENS, as only then can you expect lasting effect.