TENS machine what is it? and how does it work?

TENS MACHINE

transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

WHAT IS IT?
TENS stands for transcutaneous (through the skin) electrical nerve stimulation and is a treatment that uses low voltage electrical currents to relieve pain. The gentle electrical current is passed through electrodes which are taped to the skin near the site of the pain. The current comes from a small battery-operated machine. Because the machines are quite portable and easy to use, people can use them at home.

HOW DOES TENS RELIVE PAIN?
It is not certain how TENS relieves pain. One suggestion is that the electrical current from a TENS machine stimulates the nerve fibre (A-beta) that carries signals relating to touch. The signals from the A-beta fibres travel to the spinal cord where they temporarily block the transmission of pain sensations to the brain – this is analogous to the ‘gate’ being closed - and so the body does not experience pain. This theory is known as the ‘gate control’ theory of pain.
TENS is also thought to increase release of endorphins - the body’s own natural painkilling substances, which are produced in the brain in response to pain or stress.

HOW EFFECTIVE IS TENS AT PAIN RELIEF?
The overall clinical evidence supporting TENS effectiveness is not clear as there are not enough research has been done to draw firm conclusions.

WHAT TYPE OF PAIN CAN A TENS BE USED FOR?
TENS can be used by people to treat a variety of acute and chronic pain conditions including:

Low back pain
Sciatica.
Osteoarthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis.
Fibromyalgia.
Neck pain.
Knee pain.
Period pain.
Neuropathic pain.
Cancer pain.

*The electrodes MUST be placed near to the source of the pain, for example for calf pain they should be placed around the centre of the painful area.
WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE?
You will feel a buzzing or a tingling feeling on your skin where the electrodes are placed.

ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS?
Other than the occasional skin irritation where electrodes are applied to the skin, TENS appears to be free of any side effects.

WHEN IS TENS NOT RECOMMENDED?
TENS is NOT recommended in the following:

If you have a pacemaker.
If you have a severe heart disorder.
If you have epilepsy.
Not around the abdomen if you are in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Over the front of your neck or over your face.
Over an area of broken skin.
If you have a cochlear implant hearing device.

*Always check with your doctor if you are thinking of using TENS.

WHERE CAN I GET A TENS MACHINE?
Physiotherapists (both in hospitals and in private practice) use TENS machines and they are available for loan or hire from some hospitals. However, they may not be widely available for hire as people who gain pain relief from TENS often find it convenient to buy their own machine for long-term use.
TENS machines can be bought from the many manufacturers on the internet, or from medical equipment suppliers, and from some pharmacies.
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SHIN SPLINTS

Shin Splints. What are they?

Shin splints is a name often given to any pain at the front of the lower leg. However, true shin splints symptoms occur at the front inside of the shin bone and can arise from a number of causes.
The most common cause is inflammation of the periostium of the tibia (sheath surrounding the bone).

Shin Splints symptoms:

Pain at the inside lower half of the shin.
Pain at the start of exercise and often eases as the session continues
Pain often returns after activity and may be at its worse the next morning.
Swelling may sometimes be present.
When feeling the inside of the shin bone, lumps and bumps may be felt.
Pain when the foot or toes are bent downwards.
A redness can sometimes be present over the inside of the shin.

Treatment of Shin Splints

The treatment for shin splints is as simple as reducing the inplamaion and pain, identifying problems which may have helped cause the injury, restoring muscles to their original condition and gradually returning to training.

Treatment of shin splints include:

Rest to allow the injury to heal.
Apply ice to reduce the pain and inflammation, particually in the early stages.
Stretch the muscles of the lower leg.
To reduce the shock on the lower leg, wear shock absorbing insoles in shoes.
Maintain fitness with other non weight bearing exercises such as cycling or swimming..
Visit a sports injury clinic for rehabilitation and early treatment.

What can a sports injury clinic or doctor do?

Prescribe anti-inflammatory medication (always consult a doctor before taking medication).
Tape the shin for support.
Perform a gait analysis to determine if you over supinate or over pronate.
Sports massage.

Causes of Sin Splints

Shin splints can be caused by a number of factors which are mainly biomechamincal and errors in training. Some of the most common causes include:

Overpronation of the feet
Oversupination of the feet
Decreased flexibility at the ankle joint
Inadequate footwear
Running on hard surfaces
Increasing training too quickly

Prevention

To properly treat shin splints and prevent them recurring, the causative factors must be taken into consideration. No matter how much rest, anti-inflammatories and massage are used, without correcting the cause of the injury, the symptoms will continue to return.
Biomechanical problems can be corrected using coreclty fitted running shoes or orthotics.
As a rule of thumb with running, distances should not increase by more than 10% per week. For example, if you complete a total of 10 kilometers one week, do not increase above 11 kilometers the next week. This helps to ensure the muscles are not overworked.
For runners, try to avoid always running on hard pavements as they provide no shock absorption. Try running some of the time on tarmac, grass or even sand to reduce the shock passed through the legs.
Shin splints can be caused by overly tight calf and shin muscles. Stretching on a daily basis and even receiving sports massage can help improve flexibility.

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I've just completed week 8 of my 14 week training program for the Gold Coast Airport Marathon. It has been a hard week and I struggled with my long distance run, making up with it by a 50k bike ride on sunday which is normally my rest day.
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