In this MEDICA-tradefair.com interview, Professor Berthold Langguth talks about pain treatment using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, explains when it is especially beneficial and clarifies why it should not be considered an alternative healing method.
Professor Langguth, how does transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation work?
Prof. Berthold Langguth: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) involves – as the name suggests – the electrical stimulation of nerves. This method is used for pain management because pain signals can be modulated as they travel to the brain via the stimulation of nerve pathways.
To do this, you only need a small battery-operated device. This battery is connected by cable to electrodes on the skin that are placed near the injured areas that require stimulation – on the trunk, the arms or on the legs. This is typically the area where the pain is located. Via the electrodes on the skin, low-voltage electric current is delivered, which the patient perceives as a slight tingling sensation along the nerves. The intensity level, as well as the pattern of stimulation, can be adjusted on the device. A therapy session lasts between 20 and 30 minutes.
What types of pain can be treated with this method?
Langguth: TENS therapy is used to treat a variety of chronic pain symptoms. Even though the therapy does not provide 100 percent pain relief, it significantly reduces acute and chronic pain. Electrical stimulation is especially important to manage nerve pain that is otherwise very difficult to treat. TENS therapy can provide relieve even in cases of pain caused by tissue injuries or joint deterioration – to manage severe arthritis pain for example.