Suliman Week 1 EBP: Low vs. Medium Frequency Electrical Currents

This is Sam's week one EBP: Low vs. Medium Electrical Currents in the context of short vs. long term pain reduction. I've noted a trend between the students with the unanimous interest in physical agent modalities, so perhaps we should set up some time to really go over all of the modalities!

Now, here's Sam:
The article reviewed: Application of Low Frequency and Medium Frequency Currents in the Management of Acute and Chronic Pain-A Narrative Review focused on the pain management physical modality of TENS treatment. TENS which stands for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is a physical modality which uses electrical pulses to relieve pain. The concept of electrical pulses to relieve pain is a fairly dated concept which dates as far back as 2500 B.C. There have been cave drawings depicting species of catfish with organs producing electrical charges to treat pain. (S.Samuels, 2015). Electrical impulses or TENS units work in reference to pain management by inhibiting pain-related potentials acting like as a gate control for nerve synapses. Low frequency currents or LF TENS takes longer to achieve relief in pain whereas HF TENS or high frequency currents relieves pain more quick but loses that effect more rapidly than LF TENS. This article supports the use of TENS in treating chronic, neuropathic, fibromyalgia, as well as musculoskeletal pain, as more than adequate. In fact, this study recommended TENS be used as a primary treatment for pain relief.

Thanks, Sam!