TENS Therapy at Home in Tilak Road, Pune

Not everyone can stop and rest when pain flares. The shopkeeper who has to open at nine, the teacher with a full day of classes and the delivery rider with the next order in hand all keep going, and pain makes that harder. TENS is one tool that physiotherapists use to take the edge off pain so that movement and work become more manageable.

This page explains what TENS does, when it is useful, when it is not, and how it is used in a home visit on Tilak Road. For the wider picture of how we treat pain at home, see our TENS therapy page.

What TENS is, in plain terms

TENS stands for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. A small, battery-powered unit sends mild electrical pulses through pads placed on the skin near the painful area. The sensation is usually a tingling or buzzing. One explanation for the effect is that the pulses compete with pain signals travelling to the brain; another is that they encourage the release of the body's own pain-reducing chemicals. Neither is fully settled, and honest research evidence on TENS is mixed: some people get clear relief, others get little.

The relief tends to last for the length of the session and a short time afterwards, and does not repair the cause of the pain. That is why physiotherapists treat TENS as an aid for comfort, not as a treatment on its own.

When it is most useful for working people

• A painful spell that is blocking exercise. If a stiff, sore back makes the first exercises unbearable, a session of TENS beforehand can make them easier to do.
• Long workdays. A person who must stand or ride through the day may use a unit at home in the evening to settle pain before sleep.
• Short-term pain after a procedure. Some people use it alongside advice from their surgeon or doctor for post-operative pain.
• Persistent nerve or joint pain. In longer-standing conditions it may be tried as one option among several.

It is used most often with back pain physiotherapy, and with frozen shoulder physiotherapy when pain is stopping stretching.

Safety checks before any session

TENS is generally safe, but it is not for everyone, and the physiotherapist screens before using it. It should not be used if you have a pacemaker or another implanted electrical device, unless a cardiologist has approved it. The pads are not placed over the front of the neck, over the chest in people with heart conditions, over broken or inflamed skin, over a recent wound, or over areas where sensation is reduced, since you might not feel if the setting is too strong. It is avoided over the abdomen and lower back during pregnancy, and over the eyes or head. People with epilepsy need a doctor's advice first.

Older skin can be thin and sensitive, so pads are checked at the start and end of each session, and the intensity is raised only to a comfortable tingle, never to pain.

A TENS visit, step by step

At the visit, the physiotherapist assesses the pain first, because the right treatment depends on the cause. If TENS is suitable, the pads are placed and the intensity is set while you describe what you feel. A session usually lasts around twenty minutes or so, and the physiotherapist stays with you. It is followed by movement or exercise while the pain is eased. If the unit is helpful, the physiotherapist may show you how to use a unit safely at home between visits, though we confirm availability of equipment when you book.

If pain does not respond after a few uses, the physiotherapist will stop and try a different approach, such as the electrotherapy described on the IFT therapy page.

Pain that should be seen by a doctor, not treated with TENS

Do not use TENS to cover unexplained pain. Chest pain, pain with fever, sudden severe headache, a new numb or weak limb, back pain with trouble passing urine, or a hot, swollen, red joint all need medical assessment first.

To arrange a visit, use the booking page, or read about physiotherapy at home on Tilak Road.