Skip to main content

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Anesthesiology In-Training Exam Review

Abstract

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is a treatment technique defined as an electrical current delivered to the surface of the skin that activates nerves. It reduces pain through a combination of peripheral and central mechanisms on the nervous system, and is divided into low and high frequency. It is indicated for several conditions, such as myofascial, neuropathic and arthritic pain. It is contraindicated in patients who are pregnant, have epilepsy or have a pacemaker. Overall, there is mixed evidence for the efficacy of TENS in chronic pain conditions and therefore a need for larger, more robust studies to evaluate its efficacy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Johnson MI, Paley CA, Howe TE, Sluka KA. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for acute pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;6:CD006142.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Burke-Doe A. Pain management. In: Umphred’s neurological rehabilitation. 7th ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2020. p. 869–89.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Vance CGT, Dailey DL, Rakel BA, Sluka KA. Using TENS for pain control: the state of the evidence. Pain Manag. 2014;4(3):197–209.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Grover CA, KcKernan MP, Close RJH. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in the emergency department for pain relief: a preliminary study of feasibility and efficacy. West J Emerg Med. 2018;19(5):872–6.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Johnson M, Martinson M. Efficacy of electrical nerve stimulation for chronic musculoskeletal pain: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Pain. 2007;130(1–2):157–65.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Gibson W, Wand BM, Meads C, Catley MJ, O’Connel NE. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for chronic pain - an overview of Cochrane reviews. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;4:CD011890.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Aiyer, R., Johnson, E., Poli, J. (2022). Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. In: Banik, R.K. (eds) Anesthesiology In-Training Exam Review. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87266-3_66

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87266-3_66

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-87265-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-87266-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics