How Do You Use A Tens Machine
If youre feeling nervous about using a TENS machine for the first time, youll be pleased to know that the process takes only a few steps:
- Make sure the machine is switched off and the skin is clean and dry.
- Cover the machines pads with conductive gel and position them around the point of pain.
- Using tape, fix the pads to the skin. This way, youll be able to move around while the machine is in use.
- Set the pulse rate and switch the machine on, turning up the intensity gradually.
What Causes Cramps During Your Menstrual Cycle
Period pain is often driven by prostaglandins, hormone-like chemicals that cause uterine contraction, says Jolene Brighten, medical director at Rubus Health and author of Beyond the Pill.
Though it seems like the muscular contractions would cause the pain, its actually the prostaglandins that take you to cramp town. Typically, the more prostaglandins in your body, the worse you feel during your period.
Luckily, there are ways to minimize those body chemicals and reduce your pain, though they dont always give you the fastest relief.
Can A Tens Unit Be Harmful
Compared to many other pain relief options on the market, TENS units are considered a very safe, non-invasive method of alleviating pain and discomfort. There has been some concern that the electrodes from the machines may cause nerve damage however, this has never been proven. TENS machines are most likely to cause harm if the user turns the machine frequency up too high, so take care when testing the settings.
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Survey Of Treatment Approaches
Pharmacologic options for the treatment of dysmenorrhea have traditionally been nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or the oral contraceptive pill . Both of these act by reducing uterine muscle activity.6 However, about 10 percent of affected women do not respond to these measures. In addition, the side effect profile of these drugs may make them less desirable in certain candidates. In fact, pharmacologic treatments may not be indicated in females who may not be able to tolerate the side effects of anti-inflammatory agents or who may not wish to take the OCP for other reasons.
Non-drug treatments have included transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation . Electrodes are placed on the skin and electric current applied at different pulse rates and intensities to stimulate these areas in efforts to provide pain relief. High frequency TENS usually consists of pulses delivered at 50-120 Hz at a low intensity . Low-frequency TENS , on the other hand, usually consists of pulses delivered at 1-4 Hz at high intensity and with long pulse width.
Figure 1.Illustrative comparison of high frequency TENS and low frequency TENS .
In obstetrics and gynecology, TENS has been found to be effective in alleviating labor pain.7 TENS seems to work by altering the bodys ability to receive or perceive pain signals, rather than by having a direct effect on the uterine contractions.8
Where Can You Get A Tens Machine
One of the best things about TENS machines is that they are very accessible pain relief. Theres no need to get a referral to a doctor, or even leave your home. In fact, any woman who wants to ease period pain can purchase a TENS machine online without needing to seek an appointment or medical advice.
In short, using a TENS machine is a great therapeutic, drug-free route to pain-free periods. It can help women perform their day-to-day activities well and help them to get rid of the pain.
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What Is Tens And Who Should Use It
If a TENS unit sounds familiar, it’s because it’s not new to muscle therapy. TENS is a noninvasive form of pain-relieving therapy. It is a small and lightweight battery-operated device that connects to electrode pads that send low voltage electrical currents across the body to stimulate the nerves and decrease pain. TENS units are available for home use and are also used in physiotherapists offices. This form of therapy is a good drug-free option for treating back pain, migraines, arthritis, sports injuries, menstrual cramps and other ailments. Research has shown that reductions in period pain can occur within 20 minutes of a TENS session. It is overall safe for most people to use, but those who are pregnant, have epilepsy or use pacemakers should consult with their doctor before using.
Likewise, Strock says the PowerDot is safe for most people to use, but advises against using it simultaneously on the lower abdomen and lower back. “The electrical stimulation simultaneously used on the abdomen and lower back may unintentionally affect nerves that regulate involuntary life functions of internal organs,” she explains.
Symptoms Of Parkinsons Disease
There is insufficient evidence to suggest that TENS units reduce Parkinsons disease symptoms.
People with Parkinsons disease often have uncontrollable shaking . Two studies suggested that using TENS on the hands and arms of Parkinsons patients can help suppress their uncontrollable shaking by an average of 62% .
Another common symptom of Parkinsons is difficulty walking . A study found that applying TENS to the feet and legs of Parkinsons patients improved the ability to walk in 12% of the patients tested, and increased the amount of time that these patients could walk by an average of about 20% .
Large-scale studies are lacking.
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Tens Machines And Menstrual Pain
Menstrual pain – what is it?Menstrual pain is also known as dysmenorrhea or period pain. The term dysmenorrhea is Greek for painful menstruation. It is generally classified into two groups: primary and secondary.
Primary dysmenorrhea is the common form of menstrual cramps. It is caused by a substance called prostaglandin – made by cells in the inner lining of the uterus. Prostaglandin makes uterine muscles contract in order to help shed the lining built up during the menstrual cycle. Too much prostaglandin causes painful menstruation. Further amounts can cause headaches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Secondary dysmenorrhea is less common. It occurrs after a woman has already had normal menstrual cycles for some time. It is caused by an abnormality or infection of the uterus, tubes or ovaries. The pain, although similar to menstrual cramps, lasts longer and can even occur at other stages of the menstrual cycle. Treatment can even involve surgery.
How does TENS help with menstrual pain? Treatments have traditionally involved over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, etc. However, they have contraindications such as ulcers, asthma, pregnancy and allergic reactions. That is why many women have turned to tens units.
Primary And Secondary Dysmenorrhea
Menstrual pains can range from mild to quite severe. Severe cramps can be so painful they interfere with a woman’s regular activities for several days. Period pains of some degree affect more than an estimated 50% of women and, among these, up to 15% would describe their symptoms as severe.
In primary dysmenorrhea, there is no underlying gynecological problem causing the pain. This type of cramping may begin within six months to a year following the beginning of menstruation. In secondary dysmenorrhea, some underlying abnormal condition contributes to the menstrual pain. Secondary dysmenorrhea may develop at any stage.
Please seek medical advice if your pain is anything other than primary period pain.
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Menstruation Machine Teaches Men About Well
Now men can feel the delights of Mother Nature’s monthly gift with the Menstruation Machine by Japanese-British artist Hiromi Ozaki.
Ladies, don’t you hate it when men complain that shaving is a pain? Many of you would probably argue that a few razor nicks are a joke compared with the pain, bloating, and mood swings that tend to accompany a typical period. Well, now we men can feel your pain with a device that simulates the delights of Mother Nature’s monthly gift.
The Menstruation Machine is an art project by Hiromi Ozaki , a Japanese-British artist who seems very intrigued by her own monthly cycle.
Featured in the Royal College of Art’s Design Interactions show, the device is intended to let men feel the pain of a woman’s period, though Ozaki says it’s also designed for women, as menstruation “might become something obsolete” in the future due to advances in contraceptive technology.
The silvery device, which may or may not be merely conceptual, is worn around the waist like a belt. According to Ozaki’s YouTube site, the machine drips about 80 milliliters of blood from a tank to simulate the average flow of a five-day period. Prepare your iPads, or whatever else will stanch that flow.
I don’t really want to know where the blood comes from, but no doubt Ozaki is a hard-core performance artist. Meanwhile, for the pain of cramps, the device has “lower abdomen-stimulating electrodes” that might have you running for Midol.
Put On Helpful Footwear
Some back problem starts from the ground up. Putting on heels can be hard on your back, tens unit period cramps and thats particularly real if you have a tendency to wear heels for hours at a time, Dr. Park says. It creates you to curve your back much more, he explains.
If you dont wish to quit your heels, Dr. Park advises using apartments or sneakers when you remain in transit and maintaining your heels at the workplace or carrying them in your bag. And, when you can, toss some apartments into your routine footwear turning rather than heels. Take a look at a few of our favorite podiatrist-recommended shoes listed below:
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Tens Unit Period Cramps: 10 Ways To Take Care Of Low Pain In The Back In The House
it while working in the backyard or cleaning house. Or your back might hurt from an old sports injury or a persistent condition such as joint inflammation ankylosing spondylitis Unexpected or severe neck and back pain should be examined by a physician or a physiotherapist. That also goes for pain that wont disappear.
Yet sometimes you can deal with bothersome pain and discomfort by yourself.
Wilson Ray, MD, chief of spine surgical treatment for the Department of Neurological Surgical Procedure at Washington University Institution of Medicine in St. Louis, claims residence remedies often tend to be much better when theyre combined than alone.
Menstrual Cramps And Labor Pains
There is insufficient evidence to suggest that TENS units reduce menstrual cramps and labor pains.
A study with 40 women who had very painful menstrual cramps found that TENS was effective at reducing cramp-related pain, and led to improvements in these patients quality of life. The patients used a portable TENS units, which was particularly helpful in maintaining their treatment effectively .
In another study with 134 women with painful menstrual cramps, TENS reduced both the intensity and duration of pain more than a placebo treatment .
TENS was also useful for quickly relieving menstrual pain in a study with 40 women. Three months after the study, 70% of the women were still using the TENS unit regularly with no adverse side effects .
The TENS unit may relieve pain associated with giving birth. A study found that women who used a TENS unit during their stay at the hospital experienced less labor pain, suggesting that TENS may be helpful both during and after labor .
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How Do You Buy The Best Tens Unit For Menstrual Cramps
- Is it worth buying an tens unit for menstrual cramps?
- What benefits are there with buying an tens unit for menstrual cramps?
- What factors deserve consideration when shopping for an effective tens unit for menstrual cramps?
- Why is it crucial to invest in any tens unit for menstrual cramps, much less the best one?
- Which tens unit for menstrual cramps are good in the current market?
- Where can you find information like this about tens unit for menstrual cramps?
buying guides for tens unit for menstrual cramps
Tens Treatment For Menstrual Pain
As with all pain, pain relief is top of the agenda. Many women begin using Ibuprofen, Naproxen or some other kind of pain reliever which work by stopping the body from making prostaglandins and prevent blood clotting. However, it is often recommended to take them before you get the cramps to short-circuit the pain process thus one needs to have a very regular menstrual cycle in order to avoid taking them for days before just in case. In reference to this, it is well known that these types of pain relievers, being NSAIDs, Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, often irritate womens stomachs with frequent usage causing gastrointestinal complications so you definitely dont want to be taking them as a preventative. Some women choose to take the birth control pill instead as this can lessen the menstrual flow and cramps. However, again, due to possible side effects of the Pill, a female is required to weigh up the pros and cons.
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What Causes A Period
A period happens because of changes in hormones in the body. Hormones are chemical messengers. The ovaries release the female hormones estrogen and progesterone . These hormones cause the lining of the uterus to build up. The built-up lining is ready for a fertilized egg to attach to and start developing. If there is no fertilized egg, the lining breaks down and bleeds. Then the same process happens all over again.
It usually takes about a month for the lining to build up, then break down. That is why most girls and women get their periods around once a month.
Which Is Better For Menstrual Cramps Tens Or Livia
The study concluded that TENS with a small amount of ibuprofen is an effective way to manage the pain of menstrual cramps. Based on that research, I believe that the Livia really will work although Livia hasnt made any claims about its devices effect on menstrual flow or clotting like in the TENS study.
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