Therapy name: TENS Therapy
Regulatory Body:
Efficacy: Pain relief, childbirth pain
Overview: TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) is a method of pain relief.
How it works: It is debated how TENS actually relieves pain. Some people believe it causes the body to override pain messages, others believe that it stimulates production of the bodies’ own morphine-like substance to provide pain relief.
What to expect: Electrodes are placed on the skin directly over the painful area or at key points along the nerve pathway. A small generator emits a milli-amp of electricity through lead wires to the electrodes.
Known Contraindications: TENS can affect the operation of pacemakers.