Electricity

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS or TNS)

TENS involves using electricity to stimulate the nerves for therapeutic purposes. The range of transcutaneously electrical currents delivered as modulated pulses in a variety of band width, frequency and intensity are used for nerve excitation. Electrical pulses produced by portable stimulators are used to treat pain through a number of electrodes connected to the skin. Generally TENS is applied at high frequency (>50 Hz) with an intensity below motor contraction (sensory intensity) or low frequency (<10 Hz) with an intensity that produces motor contraction.