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No. Program name Frequency Pulse duration Treatment time Preset time Program description Examples of indications/
Electrodeplacement no.
1Conventional TENS 80 Hz 180 µs No limit (minimum 30 minutes). 30 minutes Conventional TENS (high-frequency stimulation) is the first choice for both acute
and long-term pain, both neurogenic and nociceptive. Conventional TENS is
based on the Gate Control theory, which states that electric stimulation of A-beta
fibers inhibits impulse transfer in the pain pathways.
As a rule, the electrodes should be placed on or near the painful area, or over
an area segmentally related to the painful area. Adjust the amplitude so that
the stimulation gives strong, but pleasant paraesthesia – tingling. When using
high-frequency stimulation, it’s important to ensure that the patient has normal
sensory of touch in the area where the electrodes are placed.
Neck pain ..........................................1
Shoulder pain ....................................2
Elbow pain .........................................6
Rheumatic pain .................................7
Fractured rib ................................... 12
Lumbago ................................... 10,11
Menstrual pain ............................... 13
Phantom limb pain ......................... 14
Hip pain ......................................... 16
Osteoarthritic pain in the knee... 17,18
Wound healing ................................ 19
2Burst TENS 2 Hz 180 µs 20–45 minutes, 3 times a day.
Remember that Burst TENS can
cause muscle soreness.
30 minutes Burst TENS (low-frequency stimulation) is usually most effective for radiating
(projected) pain in the arms and legs (rhizopathy), for conditions with reduced
or changed sensory of touch, for deep muscular pain, or when the post-treat-
ment effect of Conventional TENS is too short. Burst TENS treatment alleviates
pain by stimulating muscles to release the body’s own morphine-like substances,
endorphins.
Place the electrodes on a muscle in the painful area so that a visible contraction
occurs, or on acupuncture points in the painful area. The stimulation should feel
pleasant and give visible muscle contractions. Remember that the patient often
feels the stimulation clearly before contractions become visible.
Mononeuropathy ................................8
Central pain .................................. 4, 5
Cervical rhizopathy .............................3
Sciatica .......................................... 15
Knee pain ....................................... 18
3Modulated pulse dura-
tion stimulation
80 Hz 70–180 µs No limit (minimum 30 minutes). 30 minutes Modulated pulse duration stimulation is a type of high-frequency stimulation
where the pulse duration varies continuously. This can cause an undulating sen-
sation, which may be more pleasant than a constant pulse duration. Use program
3 for pain alleviation and a massage effect on muscles like the trapezius.
Trapezius pain ...................................9
Lumbago .................................. 10, 11
For more examples, see Program 1.
