T.E.N.S. – Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

TENS is used for pain blocking and can be an effective substitute to medications that cause drowsiness or apathy.
N.M.S. – Neuromuscular Stimulator E.M.S. – Electrical Muscle Stimulator
EMS is used to contract and release muscles and can be used for relaxing, rejuvenating, healing and stretching muscles.

WORKPLACE ADVANTAGES OF USING TENS AND EMS DEVICES

  • Reduce days off due to bad backs, sore necks and other debilitating injuries
  • Lost productivity due to sore back, necks, ankles, feet, knees and shoulders
  • Drowsiness and clumsiness due to strong pain medications

Other productivity and wellness gains

  • Better leg circulation
  • Relieves sore legs and feet by accelerating removal of waste and increasing blood flow
  • A faster return to work after injury

TENS/EMS A SIMPLE PORTABLE SOLUTION

A TENS device produces currents without surge and is used for pain control.

High frequency TENS (approximately 50Hz) creates what is know as the pain “gating” or pain “blocking” effect from the Gate Control Theory of Pain Modulation; Melzac R & Wall PD – “pain mechanisms: a new theory” Science 150:971-9, 1965.

Low frequency, high intensity TENS is an effective means for activating the release of B-endorphins.
The application of electrotherapy can supplement or replace the nature occurring action potential of sensor and motor nerves, cell membranes and muscle fibre.

In response to pain, chemical mediators are released and affect pain perception by altering the sensitivity of nociceptive pathways. The chemicals include B-endorphins, noradrenalin, serotonin and encephalin. B-endorphin is natural opiate and strongly inhibits pain in a similar way to morphine. It acts to interrupt the ascending and descending pathways of pain perception.

N.M.S.- Neuromuscular Stimulator E.M.S- Electrical Muscle Stimulator

An NMS or EMS unit, NMS machine or NMS device produces current at higher intensities and with surged pulses. Stimulation may be used to contract and release muscle.

Electrical stimulation initiates contractions of the muscle or the innervated muscle, electrical stimulation can mimic a range of conditions similar to those produced naturally. Different NMS parameters are required, e.g.

For strength – strong contractions and moderate number of daily repetitions
For endurance – moderate strength and high number of daily repetitions.

If left untreated, enervated muscle will atrophy, motor units will degenerate and vascularisation will decrease because voluntary and reflex activity is not possible.

  • Damage to muscles, tendons or ligament fibres cases bleeding and may lead to oedema (fluid build up).
  • Bleeding continues until the body’s defences stop it, by clotting.
  • White blood cells are transported to the wounded area from blood vessels near the injury. They engulf the dead tissue and other foreign matter in the wound.

Oxygen-depleted blood, excess fluid and waste product are removed from an injury site under low pressure created by contraction and relaxation of muscles. The rate of tissue healing is dependent on the supply of blood. Once an injury has stabilised, an increase in circulation will aid a more rapid recovery.

Following injury, the injured region is forced to rest and cells in that region are under stimulated; normal electro-chemical activity can be supplemented by electrotherapy. Low frequency, low intensity TENS or NMS is a satisfactory way to gently increase vascular circulation. Low frequency electrical stimulation produces long-term changes in vascularisation at the capillary level.
Intermittent muscle contraction eases the flow of their contents.