Electrode placement - single channel TENS therapy:
- Place two electrodes on either side of the area of greatest pain. The orientation of the electrodes can be left/right or above/below the area of pain.
- Connect these electrodes to the wire and plug into the pulse generator.
Electrode placement - dual channel TENS therapy:
- Place two electrodes on either side of the area of greatest pain, in a left/right orientation. Connect these electrodes to a wire and plug into the pulse generator.
- Place two more electrodes on either side of the area of greatest pain, in an above/below orientation. The area of greatest pain is now surrounded on four sides, like a framed picture, by electrodes. Connect these electrodes to a wire and plug into the pulse generator.
Alternative electrode placement – dual channel TENS therapy
- If the patient has pain in more than one area, the provider can place one set of electrodes on either side of one area of pain, and a second set of electrodes on either side of a second area of pain, allowing for treatment of two areas at once
Some manufacturers also make smaller “fixed site” or “wireless” units which can be focally applied to areas of pain, allowing for patients to be more active while using TENS.
- Patients, when using units at home, can use the unit multiple times per day but should not use the unit continuously, due to the risk of skin breakdown under the electrodes.