 |
Electrical Stimulation Activates Endorphins
There are many different methods of electrical stimulation used which benefit the body. For purposes of this article, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) will be analyzed. TENS Eases Pain Without Any Side Effects The TENS is the most popular electrical stimulation unit sold. Primarily used to relieve pain, the TENS manipulates the nervous system to both ignore the pain and release the bodies natural pain killer, endorphins. Through the continuous pulse of electricity near an area of pain a TENS will literally ‘head the pain off at the pass’as it is en route to the brain. The graphic below shows how the pain impulse travels through the smaller nerves of the body. Whereas, the TENS electrode activates larger nerves. As the two impulses arrive at the same passageway into the brain the larger nerve impulse crowds out the smaller nerve impulse. In effect it closes a gate on the pain impulse, so it can never reach the brain.
The logical question to ask is, ‘What if the pain activates a large nerve?’ Biologically this can not happen. Our bodies have three types of nerves; motor nerves which are the largest and go to the muscles; sensory nerves are a little smaller and allow the person to feel the happenings of the skin; and pain nerves, the smallest, which transmits pain impulses. The blocking of pain requires the TENS to be at a higher frequency of current than is required to activate the production of endorphins. The word endorphin comes from the words, endogenous, which means ‘growing from within’, and morphine, an opiate-like substance. It is best to use a TENS unit at the onset of pain, because a minimum of 30 minutes of use is required before the body begins to produce the hormones called endorphins. Endorphins can be far stronger than morphine, depending on the type of endorphin and the part of the body which receives the hormone. The TENS unit has a marvelous third effect on the body which occurs as the body no longer feels the pain an injury is generating. The brain will be triggered to forget there was ever a pain. This triggering causes the brain to actually un-learn the pain.
A TENS unit should be used for at least 30 minutes per session, with 2 or 3 sessions a day. A person can use a TENS 24/7 if desired as there are no harmful effects for the average person. You can download a free eBook which will guide you as to how and where to place electrodes for the treatment of specific ailments. Some of the ailments the TENS has been reported to help are: Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Migraine, Cervical Spondylosis, Low Back Pain, Fibrositis, Acute Sprain, Whiplash, Joint Pain, Muscle Wastage, Labor Pains, Sports Injuries, Tendinitis/Bursitis, Phantom Limb Pain, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Spinal Cord Disorders, Terminal Illness Pain, Post Operation Recovery People with the following conditions should not use a TENS or EMS until a doctor has been consulted: Tuberculosis, Pregnancy, Tumors, Low Blood Pressure, High Fever, Epilepsy, Infected or Inflamed Skin, Around the Head and Neck, Near the Eyes or Throat, Heart Condition, If Using a Pacemaker
Although an EMS unit can be programmed to function like a TENS unit it’s basically designed to stimulate the bodies muscles, rather than the nerves. This causes the muscles to flex, much like lifting weights would. For this reason, the EMS is used in sports training, rehabilitation and recovery of muscle injuries. In sports training EMS electrodes are placed over the motor points of the muscle group. Because an EMS artificially flexes muscles, some of the nerve axon within the muscle are activated that would not normally be stimulated. This causes a strengthening of muscle fibers that the person could not strengthen any other way. Muscle creation through an EMS unit requires a long rest period between contractions. In general, it is advisable to do 10 repetitions of 10 seconds each with a minute rest between each repetition. The use of a EMS unit increases the individuals muscle mass, endurance and strength. The EMS Can Help Stroke Victims Recover EMS is used with both stroke and paralysis victims. For the person who has suffered a stroke the EMS can re-teach the muscles to move again. A stroke damages certain parts of the brain. The muscles have not been injured, yet, the brain can no longer send the impulses needed for movement. With an EMS attached to the non-functioning muscle a new path to the brain is created. The old pathway was destroyed by the stroke and can not be recovered, but the body has tons of redundancy systems built into itself. So, through the EMS unit a new method of moving the muscles is established. With this method a quicker recovery of motion can be attained for stroke patients. People suffering from paralysis can retard the atrophy of their muscles with an EMS unit. A medical physician should be consulted as to the exact use of the EMS unit for muscle re-education or prevention of atrophy. How the EMS effects the body:
The best thing about TENS and EMS units are that they not only work, but that they are drug free, non-invasive and have no side effects. | ||
| © 2010 Promolife, Inc., all rights reserved. | ||
