How does TENS work?

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

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Electrical signals are a natural part of how the nervous system works. Signals that are sent along the nerves are relayed in part as electrical impulses. Because the nerves are naturally susceptible to electrical signals, they can be stimulated by electrical therapies like TENS.

TENS stimulates nerve fibres involved in touch. This might work to treat pain and spasticity in several ways:

  • TENS may reduce pain by blocking pain signals, so you can feel other sensations instead. This works in the same way as when you rub the skin over a sore area of your body. The unusual ‘tingling’ feeling of the TENS stimulation is sent to the brain instead of pain signals.
  • TENS may cause the release of endorphins within the nervous system that may help to reduce pain.
  • TENS may affect spasticity by making it less likely that the nerve cells to the muscles (motor neurons) will fire.