TENS Therapy for Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, with around 500,000 cases diagnosed in Australia every year.

OA usually affects joints in the hand, spine, knees and hips and involves the wearing away of the cartilage that caps the bones in your joints causing the bones to rub directly against one another, and in turn, producing joint pain and reduced movement.

For people suffering from osteoarthritis, walking, climbing up stairs or opening a jar can be very painful.

OA is very common in people over 40 years old. While there is not an specific cause, there are factors that increase the change of occurrence of osteoarthritis, for example:

• ageing
• previous joint injuries (sport or accident)
• obesity
• jobs that imply heavy lifting
• metabolic health conditions, such as diabetes

Osteoarthritis impacts the functionality of the affected joint causing pain and discomfort in the area.

Typically, the symptoms start out mildly and get worse with time. Common symptoms are:

• Worsening of pain in the affected area during or after a particular movement or activity
• Joint stiffness, especially after getting out of bed in the morning or after standing for a while after sitting
• Tenderness in the afflicted joint, especially when light pressure to the joint is applied
• Loss of flexibility
• Grating sensation while walking
• Discomfort and Swelling

As this health problem worsens, it may potentially result in disability.

Even though osteoarthritis is a permanent health condition, there are therapies that can help you effectively manage your pain and other symptoms. The following are some of the therapy possibilities:

• Medications: to lessen and control discomfort such as anti-inflammatories
• Surgical procedures: such as knee replacement
• Physiotherapy: to strengthen the muscles that surround the affected joint
• TENS Therapy

An effective method of pain management for Osteoarthritis without using drugs is TENS Therapy. Transcutaneous Electro Nerve Stimulation, or TENS, uses electrical stimulation to improve blood flow and block the body’s pain signals in order to lessen and manage pain.

TENS Machines offer quick and effective joint pain relief. Through the pads attached to the skin, electrical pulses are delivered causing through the tissue, relieving pain and reducing inflammation.

TENS Machine can help with Osteoarthritis by:

• Providing pain relief
• Improving circulation
• Reducing inflammation
• Accelerate healing

1. Clean the area to be treated and dry to ensure the gel pads (electrodes) stick to the skin
2. Apply the self-adhesive pads across the affected area and connect the electrodes to the TENS control unit
3. Select one of the pain-relief programs and start
4. Adjust the intensity to a level where stimulation is felt but is not uncomfortable
5. At program completion, re-assess the pain and repeat the program if necessary
6. You can use your TENS Machine as often as needed