Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

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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.

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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

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

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-87265-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-87266-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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