[TENS: fiction and fact].
TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) is a widely used therapeutic principle that is aimed at ameliorating pain of various genesis. Its effectiveness had been more or less accepted, when a study denying this very point was published and gave rise to considerable international uncertainty. The result was general rejection of TENS (at least in the USA). This reaction is, however, certainly not justified. An analysis of the international literature shows that most original data are favorable to TENS. It is to be hoped that the matter will again receive intensive international research and that within a few years we will have identified the indications for this form of therapy.
Ernst
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Klinik für Physikalische Medizin und Rehabilitation, Allgemeines Krankenhaus Wien, Universität Wien.
D006801:Humans; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000503:physiopathology; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D059408:Pain Management; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000379:methods*