What are the risks and side effects of using TENS?

Author: SCIRE Community Team | Reviewer: Amrit Dhaliwal | Published: 27 July 2017 | Updated: ~

TENS is considered to be a relatively safe and well-tolerated treatment for people who can use it safely (see above for restrictions on using TENS). Serious medical complications from using TENS are rare. However, there are risks and side effects that should be discussed with a health provider before using TENS.

The most common risks and side effects of TENS include:

Skin discomfort, irritation, or redness near the electrodes
Allergy to the conductive gel
Mild electrical burns near the electrodes
An increase in pain or discomfort
Mild electrical shocks (from improper use or faulty equipment)

Other less common risks and side effects of TENS include:

Autonomic reactions, like nausea, light-headedness, fainting, or autonomic dysreflexia
An increase in spasticity

In some cases, risks and side effects may be caused by improper use of the equipment. For this reason, it is essential to learn to use the equipment from a health provider and to only use TENS according to their direction.