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Do not apply TENS therapy to the chest if you have heart disease, heart failure or arrhythmias. TENS therapy could increase bleeding at the tissue site or increase the risk of bleeding in persons with bleeding disorders. A bleeding (hemorrhagic) disorder or recent or actively bleeding tissue.Do not use TENS therapy as it may increase blood circulation, which may increase the risk of dislodging a blood clot. Deep vein thrombosis or thrombophlebitis.Do not apply electrodes to your head, neck or shoulders. Do not use TENS if you have undiagnosed pain and a history of cancer in the last 5 years.
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Do not apply electrodes to areas of the body where there is known or suspected cancer. (However, TENS can be used for labor pain.) Do not apply TENS therapy to the abdomen pelvic area lower back or to acupuncture points at the knee, hand or ankle. TENS could cause these devices to malfunction. Do not use TENS therapy over or close to the areas where an electronic device is implanted. An implantable device (cardioverter/defibrillator, neurostimulators, bone growth stimulator, indwelling blood pressure monitors).Peripheral artery disease (“hardening of the arteries” that circulate blood to the body).įor what types of conditions and areas of the body should transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy not be used?ĭo not use TENS therapy at these specific body locations if you have any of the following conditions:.Diabetes-related neuropathy (damage to the nerves that connect the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body).Bursitis (inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that cushion joints).Tendinitis (an inflammation or irritation of a tendon).Fibromyalgia (aching and pain in muscles, tendons, and joints all over the body, especially along the spine.Osteoarthritis (disease of the joints).Some of the most common conditions for which TENS has been used include: TENS therapy has been used or is being studied to relieve both chronic (long lasting) and acute (short-term) pain. What is transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy used to treat? The endorphins then block the perception of pain. The other theory is that nerve stimulation raises the level of endorphins, which are the body’s natural pain-killing chemical. One theory is that the electric current stimulates nerve cells that block the transmission of pain signals, modifying your perception of pain. There are two theories about how transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) works. How does transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) work? The electrodes are placed at or near nerves where the pain is located or at trigger points. A TENS unit consists of a battery-powered device that delivers electrical impulses through electrodes placed on the surface of your skin. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a therapy that uses low voltage electrical current to provide pain relief. What is transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy?
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