Physio forum, chiropractic, TENS machines

[Josephine]

Lot of good people on this forum. If you need specialist PT advice, do take a look

The Physio Forum

[Josephine]

Chiropractic

Manipulation treatment

Manipulation is the chiropractor's most important technique. With his or her hands, the chiropractor moves a joint a little further than the patient would be able to do on their own. The vacuum that exists in most joints in the body is overcome and small bubbles of gas are created in the synovial fluid between the joints. These bubbles can cause the audible 'snap' that can often accompany manipulation. This sound is not caused by bones grating against each other or by something being torn. The purpose of this treatment is to normalise the functions of the joints and muscles and to ease, or remove, pain.

Soft tissue treatment

The chiropractor also treats the soft tissues of the body - the muscles and tendons. This may be done by different forms of massage, acu-pressure and stretching.

[Josephine]

TENS machines (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator)

How do TENS machines work?

Transcutaneous means 'through the skin'. TENS machines deliver small electrical pulses to the body via electrodes placed on the skin. TENS machines are thought to affect the way pain signals are sent to the brain. Pain signals reach the brain via nerves and the spinal cord. If pain signals can be blocked then the brain will receive fewer signals from the source of the pain. We may then feel less pain.

TENS machines are thought to work in two ways:

- When the machine is set on a high pulse rate (90-130 Hz) it is thought to trigger the 'pain gate' to close. The 'pain gate' is a theory that says that when certain non pain-carrying nerves are stimulated then these can can interfere with ('close') signals from nerves that transmit pain. The TENS machine is thought to stimulate certain non pain-carrying nerves. This may then interfere or block pain messages sent to the brain. This is the normal method of use.
- When the machine is set on a low pulse rate (2-5 Hz) it stimulates the body to make its own pain easing chemicals called endorphins. These act a bit like morphine to block pain signals.




Application of electrodes - best in 2 pairs placed diagonally to maximise the effect.