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Pain Relief with Electrotherapy
Pain relief without drugs is often not only effective, but can be entirely free of unwanted side effects. Electrotherapy is the most popular method of combating pain with many different electrotherapy devices now easily available and adapted for safe use at home. Electrotherapy machines are medical devices utilising proven types of electrotherapies that have been adapted for effective and safe home use. You can use electrotherapy devices as a stand alone treatment or alongside other therapies, such as pain killers or massage. For many people, electrotherapy is very effective and significantly reduces consumption of prescription drugs. Below we present some of the electrotherapy devices available from Win Health.
Pain Relief Electrotherapy
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Drug Free Pain Relief
Much has been written about potentially life threatening adverse effects linked to a number of pain killers pain relieving pharmacological drugs (i.e. pain killing medication = pain killer). It is not surprising therefore, that many people who suffer chronic pain and prolonged discomfort are turning to non pharmacological alternatives for pain relief. Electrotherapy devices can be as effective in pain relief as medication, however, pain relief with electrotherapy carries an extra bonus of being free of frug related side effects. Most commonly used electrotherapy devices for pain relief are Tens machines, interferential therapy machines, high frequency tone therapy machines, infrared heat therapy devices and phototherapy lasers.
Drug free pain relief can be achieved in many different ways. Alternative therapy practitioners, such as osteopaths, chiropractors and physiotherapists can offer valuable and specialised advice to people wishing to reduce their intake of painkillers. Often simple methods, such as application of heat or warmth can be effective and helpful (i.e. Beurer Therapeutic Heat Pads, Beurer Heating Pads for Neck, Back and Abdomen, Beurer Foot Warmers, Thermotex Infrared Heat Therapy). However, please note that experts advise that people do not stop pain relieving medication without a prior consultation with their doctor.
In this short introduction to Drug Free Pain Relief with Electrotherapy we list a number of different ways to address pain without medication or alongside medication by using diverse medical electrotherapy devices.
These drug free electrotherapy pain relief methods are as follows:
TENS - Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) has been designed to stimulate sensory nerve endings in order to decrease perception of pain. The stimulus blocks pain signals passing along the nerves to the central nervous system. TENS stimulus also stimulates production of endorphins - naturally produced chemical substances that change sensory perception.
TENS does not cure physiological conditions. TENS merely helps to control the perception of pain by stimulating sensory nerve endings, which blocks pain signals and by stimulating endorphin production for more normalised sympathetic function. Stimulation of the nerve fibres with mild electrical impulses can modify pre-existing sensations and change our perception of discomfort and pain. TENS stimulation is characterised by biphasic current and user selectable pulse width and pulse rate.
TENS function is often incorporated into electro muscular stimulators (EMS) designed to tone, rehabilitate, regenerate and build up muscle fibres after injuries, after stroke or during physical training. More recently, EMS therapy for the relief of venous disease has been introduced - VeinOPlus Stimulator combines EMS with TENS to provide relief from pain and discomfort caused by venous disease and venous insufficiency.
Conditions that respond to TENS include the following:
Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Post Operative Pain, Post Amputation Pain, Back Pain, Lumbago, Sciatica, Whiplash, Sports Injuries, Neuralgia, Skeletal Pains, Muscle Aches, General Pain, Cancer Pain, Period Pain, Labour Pain, Tension and Travel Sickness.
TENS Machines available from Win Health:
- Neurotrac TENS
- Neurotrac Obstetric TENS
- Neurotrac TENS Acustim
- Neurotrac Sports
- Neurotrac Sports XL
- Neurotrac Rehab
- Beurer 2 Channel TENS EMS
- Beurer 4 Channel TENS EMS
- Beurer Back Pain TENS
- Pain Doctor
- Touch TENS
- iTouch TENS
- MamaTENS Maternity TENS
- Ova Period Pain TENS
- Femme Elite '3 in1' TENS for Women
- Flexi TENS
- Cefaly Cranial TENS
- VeinOPlus Stimulator - EMS with TENS
- Smart TENS
Acupuncture
The traditional Chinese acupuncture involved insertion of thin needles into the skin over specific points on the body with the purpose of re-balancing the flow of vital energy along the body's energy pathways. Acupuncture therapy alters body's inner energy flow and realigns the body's electrical fields, helping to normalise cellular processes and organ functions, relieve pain and improve healing.
In the modern healthcare, acupuncture maintains its important position as one of the most popular arms of alternative medicine backed by a growing wealth of clinical evidence of proven efficacy and safety. Today's acupuncturists use not only fine needles to stimulate acupuncture points, but also mild electrical currents and infrared laser light to stimulate acupuncture points for analgesia and pain relief, healing and restoration of health. Such non-invasive needle free acupuncture is painless and non-traumatic. Non-invasive needle free acupuncture can be performed with devices such as cold lasers or piezo-electric Tens pens and micro current acupuncture probes.
Acupuncture stimulates release of endogenous biochemical compounds - endorphins, dynorphins and enkephalins - that have 'morphine like' efficacy in decreasing the sensation of pain. These compounds are released at different levels of human nervous system and act as natural endogenous painkillers that help us to better tolerate pain and experience a feeling of well-being. Endorphins are released in the brain, whilst dynorphins and enkephalins are released in the spinal cord.
Acupuncture Devices on Win Health website:
High Frequency Tone Therapy
The high frequency tone therapy is a form of modern electrotherapy, in which electric current is used to influence and enhance cellular processes. The higher the frequency employed, the greater the penetration of the current into the tissues. Common applications of electrotherapy include pain relief and muscular recovery. TENS and Interferential Therapy as described above are examples of conventional electrotherapies.
High frequency tone therapy - also called high frequency sound therapy, high tone therapy or horizontal therapy - is different and its effects are much more comprehensive than those of other electrotherapies (i.e. TENS or interferential therapy). The high tone therapy is able to produce bio-electric and bio-chemical effects in tissues at the same time. The high tone therapy normalises bio-electric and bio-chemical processes inside and outside the cells. The high tone therapy stimulates cells and tissues to mobilise, accelerate and use own endogenous 'self defence' resources to heal and repair. Hence, the high tone therapy produces natural physiological outcomes and delivers therapeutic effects entirely naturally and without side effects. The high frequency waves penetrate tissues deeply and painlessly and deliver outstanding therapeutic outcomes in pain relief.
High frequency tone therapy has the following therapeutic effects:
- activates cellular metabolic processes
- stimulates enzyme activities
- relieves pain
- reduces inflammation
- reduces swelling
- energises and normalises cells and tissues
- improves intercellular communication
- accelerates healing and tissue regeneration
- stimulates release of endorphins in central nervous system and helps to increase the feeling of well-being
High frequency tone therapy is entirely painless and sensation free and it can be applied continually for many hours at a time, if required, without worries about any unwanted side effects. High frequency tone therapy is effective in relieving of all types of musculoskeletal pain and joint pain, inflammation and swelling.
High frequency tone therapy is especially successful in helping people with painful joints and debilitating back pain that are due to cartilage deterioration. The high frequency tone therapy treatment improves the quality of the damaged cartilage, making it more elastic and resilient. The high frequency tone therapy is highly effective in reducing both the acute and the chronic pain.
High Frequency Tone Therapy Deivce on Win Health website:
Far Infrared (FIR) Heat Therapy
Far infrared heat therapy delivers prolonged deep heat into tissues. Infrared heat therapy employs infrared rays to provide highly efficient therapeutic heating for pain relief, rehabilitation and accelerated healing.
Infrared is a band of energy in the electromagnetic spectrum. The energy is in the form of waves. There are different bands of wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum, including the infrared, visible light, microwaves, ultraviolet and x-rays.
Infrared is a radiant heat that is also often referred to as 'infrared energy'. Radiant heat can be described as an energy that heats objects directly through conversion and without having to heat the surrounding air.
Infrared heat is naturally and readily absorbed by the body. Infrared heat is safe and therapeutic and it penetrates tissues into greater depth than heat from other heating sources. The depth of penetration ensures that even deeply located pain centres are reached. Infrared heat can be safely used for long periods of time, reducing pain and discomfort, stress and fatigue. Prolonged far infrared deep tissue heat increases blood flow in the target areas. Increased blood flow delivers more nutrients and oxygen that are vital to tissue repair, whilst simultaneously removes cellular debris, dead cells, toxins and metabolic waste.
Therapeutic indications for far infrared heat therapy are as follows:
- back pain, joint stiffness, arthritis and aches
- bursitis, tendonitis and shoulder injuries
- sports and activity related injuries, sprains and strains
- stiffness and pain resulting from lactic acid build up in muscles
- Tennis Elbow and Golfer's Elbow
- leg pain, foot pain and hip pain
- hand pain and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- hamstring tears, calf injuries and thigh injuries
- knee ligament injuries and Runner's Knee
- fibromyalgia
- muscle spasms and menstrual cramps
- neuralgia, earache and facial spasm
- pain associated with haemorrhoids
Infrared heat therapy is safe for adults and children and can be used regularly and for long periods of time as required.
Infrared Therapy Devices offered by Win Health:
Laser Phototherapy
Laser phototherapy is a treatment during which light energy is delivered to living tissues and when absorbed, a photobiological cellular response arises. Lasers are devices that generate light. Effective phototherapy requires a specific wavelength of light to be delivered in an appropriate dose. Laser phototherapy is beneficial in many conditions ranging from pain relief to wound healing.
Laser phototherapy energises tissues by delivering photon energy to living cells via irradiation with visible or invisible light in wavelengths between circa 400 - 1000 nm at appropriate dose. The absorbed light energy triggers biological reactions in the cells. Variety of endogenous chemical substances are produced in the cells and carried by blood and lymphatic flow to other parts of the system.
Therapeutic effects of laser phototherapy (i.e. irradiation with low level laser) include the following:
- increased production of ATP (Adenosine TriPhosphate)
- increased cellular metabolism
- increased collagen production
- increased enzyme production
- increased protein synthesis
- better blood flow
- better lymphatic flow and drainage
- reduced inflammation
Laser phototherapy is able to address many painful and inflammatory conditions and painful problems, ranging from pain relief to wound healing and sports injuries. Laser phototherapy also plays an increasing role in dermatology and skin rejuvenation.
Laser phototherapy is painless and non traumatic and can be used to treat acute injuries as well as chronic conditions. It is easy to apply and offers a possibility of convenient self treatments as many of the modern phototherapy lasers are cleared for home use.
Please refer to Laser Therapy section of this website for more information about laser phototherapy, laser phototherapy indications, laser therapy guides and handbooks.
Phototherapy Lasers offered by Win Health:
Photic Therapy
Photic Therapy has been developed by British doctors striving to find an effective treatment for PMS and a relief from the symptoms of migraine. Light therapy offers a safe and effective approach in many health related problems with ever growing wealth of supporting clinical evidence. Photic stimulation with gently pulsing light shown into closed eyes has been shown to relieve symptoms of migraines, PMS and help with a variety of other disorders, such as sleeplessness (insomnia), stress, chronic pain and attention deficit disorder.
Photic Therapy Device available from Win Health:
The Lightmask treatment involves wearing a lightmask that covers the eyes for about 15 minutes per day. There are miniature lights in the Lightmask - one light in front of each eye. The lights gently pulse in special pre-programmed rhythms. The Lightmask treatment is non-invasive and drug free.
Vibration Therapy
Vibration training is a low impact full body workout used to strengthen and tone up muscles. Vibration training is non-strenuous; yet, it desirably increases the load on the muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints, contributing to gradual improvements in their strength, flexibility and the range of movements. Vibration training also boosts delivery of oxygen and nutrients, thus contributing to overall wellbeing and fitness. Some experts even say that 10 to 15 minutes vibration training exercise equates to full hour of conventional exercising.
Vibration technology was initially developed in the second half of the twentieth century by Russian scientists for use by Russian cosmonauts. Vibration training that imposed high loads on people was to help to slow down bone loss and muscle wasting caused by weightlessness in space.
More recently, vibration massage plates, also called power plates, are frequently used by athletes to top us their training efforts.
Vibration therapy has numrous applications in pain relief with vibrations shown to ease off pain and often provide lasting relief. Hand held vibration devices are applied near the area of pain or directly to trigger points.
Most recent innovative Vibration Therapy Device presented on Win Health website is the Tenease that relieves elbow pain, such as Tennis Elbow and Golfers Elbow.
Vibration Therapy Devices on Win Health website:
Pain Relief Guides
Pain Relief Books and Electrotherapy User Guides
Knowledge and awareness play important roles in effective pain relief. Books and guides written by professionals are often easy to read and to understand and offer good advice that can help pain suffers reduce pain, cope with their pain better and improve their quality of life.
Professional health practitioners can also guide you easily through self treatment applications, when using electrotherapy devices at home.
Resources presented on Win Health website:
Refer to Muscle Assessment and Rehab page for general information on muscle assessment and muscle rehabilitation device with pain relief function.
Refer to Neuromuscular Electrodes page for superior range of Neuromuscular Stimulation skin electrodes and TENS therapy skin electrodes.
Return to Win Health home page or visit Win Health Online Shop.
