8
INTENSITY
Each patient responds differently to different levels of intensity, due
to varying degrees of tissue resistance, innnervation, skin thickness,
etc. Intensity instructions are therefore limited to the following
settings: Perception - The intensity is increased so that the patient
can feel the stimulation, but there is no muscular contraction.
Slight Contraction - Intensity is increased to a barely visible
.
t
n
i
o
j
a
e
v
o
m
o
t
h
g
u
o
n
e
g
n
o
r
t
s
t
o
n
s
i
t
a
h
t
n
o
it
c
a
r
t
n
o
c
r
a
l
u
c
s
u
m
When using low pulse rate settings, this will show as individual
twitches. At higher pulse rates there will simply be increased
muscle tension. Strong muscular contraction is typically not used in
TENS therapy. However, muscular contraction may be useful if the
pain involves a cramped or spastic muscle.The TENS can be used
as a traditional muscle stimulator in the circumstances to quickly
break the spasm. Use a rapid pulse rate, wide pulse duration and
.
)
e
c
n
a
r
e
l
o
t
t
n
e
it
a
p
n
i
h
ti
w
l
li
t
s
(
n
o
it
c
a
r
t
n
o
c
e
l
b
i
s
i
v
o
t
y
ti
s
n
e
t
n
i
e
h
t
t
e
s
Twenty or thirty minutes of such a tetanized muscular contraction
will generally break the spasm. In all cases, if the patient complains
that the stimulation is
uncomfortable, reduce intensity and/or cease stimulation.
TIME DURATION
The onset of pain relief should occur shortly after the intensity
setting has been determined. However, in some cases, pain relief
may take as long as 30 minutes to achieve especially when using
low-frequency TENS.TENS units are typically operated for long
periods of time, with a minimum of 20 - 30 minutes and in some
post-operative protocols, as long as 36 hours.
In general, pain relief will diminish within 30 minutes of the cessation
of stimulation. Pain relief obtained through low-frequency TENS
may last longer.
At h
H
8
Med-fit-1-instuctionmanual.qxp_Layout 1 24/07/2020 09:43 Page 8
