TENS pad placement for fybromyalgia
How a TENS machine can help you against fybromyalgia
Fibromyalgia or fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic, neurological disease of pain perception and procession. It is characterised by widespread muscular pain accompanied by extreme fatigue, sleep and mood issues. The diagnosis of this disease was very complicated, but in recent years it has gotten a lot easier through various guidelines. Remember that only doctors should make accurate diagnoses. So far, fibromyalgia is not curable. Therefore the treatment should not cure fibromyalgia, it should alleviate the pain caused by the disease. The transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) can help you and is an alternative to pain therapy with medication.
In stimulation current therapy, electrical impulses are transmitted to the skin with the help of the TENS machine via electrode pads. There are two effects of pain relief with TENS. With high frequency, the transmission of the pain to your brain can be blocked, so you won’t perceive the pain. With low frequency, a TENS machine stimulates your body externally to release endorphins[1] and as a result relieve your pain. TENS also increases blood flow[2].
If you have any further questions concerning EMS machines, feel free to contact us. Consultation by phone: +49 (0) 7152 - 353 911 - 0 or write to us: service@axion.shop.
Our TENS machine and electrode pad recommendation
The correct pad placement for fibromyalgia
There are diverse complaints of fibromyalgia. Most people report muscular pain and joint pain from changing locations, so we want to give you an example for the pad placement if you suffer from back pain caused by fibromyalgia. On our TENS application overview, you can get all the information and pad placements for your requirements. If you have further questions about specific pad placements, you are welcome to use our contact form.
In this example of the pad placement at the back, we used our 5 x 5 cm electrode pads, which you can use for almost every part of the body.
The optimal TENS machine for your application -program recommendation
For TENS EMS machines from axion, we recommend the following programs for pain therapy
TENS EMS Combo Machine STIM-PRO X9
The programs P08 or P09 are generally used here.
To the device: TENS EMS Combo Machine STIM-PRO X9
TENS Machine STIM-PRO T-400
The programs P08 or P09 are generally used here.
To the device: TENS machine STIM-PRO T-400
TENS Machine STIM-PRO COMFORT
The program P08 is generally used here.
To the device: TENS machine STIM-PRO COMFORT
Please note
The current strength should be set so that it is felt as a pleasant tingling sensation. The duration of the application should be approx. 40 minutes in order to be able to achieve a lasting reduction in pain. It is also useful to change the programs every now and then.
Causes
Precise causes for fibromyalgia couldn’t be found until now. In medical research, biochemical or neurological disorders are discussed to play an important role for the genesis of this disease. Mostly genetic predisposition or psychological factors are considered as a possible cause for fibromyalgia. Psychological factors could be daily stress, or mental traumas like abuse. It is important to say that no pathological changes of the muscles and the bones occur through fibromyalgia. There are no inflammations such as rheumatism, which cause the pain but the perception of pain is disturbed. The often used name “soft-tissue rheumatism” is misleading and not correct. Women are more likely to develop fibromyalgia than are men. The disease often occurs to people between 40 and 60.
Treatment options for fibromyalgia
The therapy should be adapted individually to the patient's needs. According to a scientific study, TENS reduced the movement pain and fatigue significantly compared to the control group with placebo-TENS[3]. A combination of different treatments is often chosen.
Treatment options are:
- Movement moderate sport (e.g. walking)
- Extension exercises
- Water gymnastics
- Heat therapy
- Cold therapy
- TENS
- Lymph drainage
- Massages
- Medication
Combination of TENS and heat therapy
You can enhance the effect of your TENS treatment against fibromyalgia with heat therapy. Heat therapy promotes blood circulation and loosens the muscles. The use of heat is particularly suitable for muscular tension.
Moor heat pack: Due to the filling of natural moor, these heat pads can store the heat longer and release it more evenly than other heat pads, e.g. cherry pit pads.
Hot water bottle: The hot water bottle is a classic in heat therapy that stands out due to its easy application. You only have to fill in warm water. The hot water bottles are also available with a variety of different covers.
Our TENS machine and electrode pad recommendation
The benefits of TENS treatment
The TENS world of axion
We are happy to advise you
You still have questions about TENS machines and the different applications? Do not hesitate to contact us!
Studies and scientific sources
[1] Ortu, E., Pietropaoli, D., Mazzei, G., Cattaneo, R., Giannoni, M., & Monaco, A. (2015). TENS effects on salivary stress markers: A pilot study. International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology, 114–118. https://doi.org/10.1177/0394632015572072
[2] Cramp, Gilsenan, Lowe & Walsh. (2000). The effect of high- and low-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation upon cutaneous blood flow and skin temperature in healthy subjects. Clinical Physiology, 20(2), 150–157. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2281.2000.00240.x
[3] Dailey, Dana L. et al (2019) Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Reduces Movement-Evoked Pain and Fatigue: A Randomized, Controlled Trial. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 72(5). https://doi.org/10.1002/art.41170
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