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BioStim® TENS relieves
pain by using a method of pain relief we here at Bio Electronics
like to refeer to as Electronic Body Stimulation (EBS).
The pain relieving mechanism of EBS is multi-factorial. All
sorts of issues factor in, including the type of stimulus,
its frequency and duration. Acceptance of the technology by
the user plays no small part - meaning that there is a strong
psychological component to any pain experienced - so how one
interprets pain and the choice of analgesia for that pain can
be central. Having said that, the three most important physiological
factors are:
- an endorphin release,
- pain 'gating'
- the 'unlearning' of pain.
Endorphins are a hormone that occurs naturally in the body.
Released in response to an injury or physical stress, they
reduce pain and promote a feeling of wellbeing. Morphine, and
related medications, have a similar chemical structure to Endorphins
- which explains their strong pain-killing effects. In fact,
'Endorphin' is made up of two words: Endogenous - native to
the body, and Morphine - opiate-like substance.
Runners, and other athletes, experience a natural 'high' after
about half an hour of sustained physical exertion. This is
attributed to the steady release of Endorphins during exercise,
which reach a threshold point within an hour, before which
time their effect cannot usually be felt.
Electronic Body Stimulation is a well accepted medium for
inducing a release of Endorphins into the body - and much like
exercise, may take up to 30 minutes or more to take a noticeable
effect. Once pain relief is evident, however, the effect may
last several hours before Endorphin levels in the body need
to be increased again.
The body will release Endorphins if the rate of EBS is low
- less than 7 pulses per second (ie. 'L' on the dial of your
BioStim® unit).
This pain relieving effect is very simply described using
the example of someone that stubs their toe, then rubs it to
ease the pain. When the toe is stubbed, the pain messages travel
in the nerves to the brain - where they are interpreted and
tell the person they actually feel the pain. Rubbing this same
toe vigorously will also cause these new, 'non-painful' messages
to travel to the brain, where they compete for attention. The
non-painful messages are processed in favour of the pain messages,
and we subsequently feel less pain. In other words, the rubbing
sensation has 'closed the gate', so painful messages cannot
get through. We all know from personal experience, the faster
we rub our stubbed toe, the better the results.
EBS works in the just the same way. It generates electrical
impulses that block the pain. The faster the pulses, the better
the pain relief (ie. 'H' on the dial of a BioStim® unit).
Your BioStim¨ can be set to get the best of both of these
effects, promoting both a release of Endorphins and providing
a 'Gating' effect. A Gating effect should be evident within
a short period of use, but for an Endorphin release (and extended
pain relief) you should wear your BioStim® for at least 30
- 60 minutes. Use for more than two hours will give maximum
results, and remember that your BioStim® can be worn safely
for as long as required (including whilst sleeping). Similar
to medication, three daily doses may be required for some individuals.
After a course of treatment with TENS, the body may be reprogrammed
so that pain is no longer perceived. It has been taught to
'unlearn' the pain.
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