TENS Device for Knee Pain
The knee is one of the most active joints in the body. This also makes it the most susceptible joints to injury. Recent studies have shown knee injuries are one of the highest reported injuries on the job in the U.S. Can a TENS help you?
Managing Knee Pain
Unfortunately, with knee injury usually comes knee pain and symptoms.
For more severe knee injuries, treatment from a physician is sometimes required. Depending on the severity, surgery, pain injections, or physical therapy maybe what your treating doctor chooses to prescribe.
Your doctor may also choose to prescribe a TENS unit for your knee pain. It is a great option for a person who wants to get knee pain relief at home. A TENS unit will also help reduce medication use. Or you just might be the person who can’t make regular doctor’s appointments. Studies have shown a TENS unit has similar results to OTC medications in reducing knee pain.
What is a TENS Unit?
A transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit is used as a treatment strategy for pain. A TENS unit is a small, battery-operated, portable device that sends electrical signals to the sight of the pain and helps to control that pain.
How to Use a TENS Unit for Knee Pain
In order for a TENS unit to provide proper pain relief, it is imperative that the device is placed in the appropriate location. Determining exactly where the pain in the knee is located is crucial, as this is the location where the pads need to be placed.
You also need to determine how many pads you need to place on the localized area of knee pain. Two or four pads are most commonly used to treat pain. Two pads are typically used while four electrode pads will cover a wider area. The spot where you will place the pads of your portable TENS unit depends on where the source of your pain is located. Common locations for pad placement include:
The sides of the knee, the back of the knee, and the front of the knee:
Typically for the placement of the pads, you should avoid the kneecap. Generally, when using the TENS pads, you want to surround the kneecap by placing a pad on each side. If needed you can place four pads totally surrounding the knee. Also, not on the above illustration, but occasionally people will suffer from pain in the back of the knee and placement on the back of the knee is acceptable too.
Once in place, turn the device on to produce electronic muscle stimulation. With proper placement, this form of electrotherapy can greatly reduce the amount of pain that you experience in your knee and can provide some increased range of motion and flexibility.
Conductive knee garments are also a great option to be used with a TENS for those hard to reach spots on the knee.
For more information on TENS units and other at home pain relief products check out www.Directens.com
www.Directens.com is the #1 online DME company that is both patient and doctor friendly!
