Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA) is a condition where daily activities like walking, bending, or standing can become painful for sufferers. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
(TENS) may be something that you’d consider if you’re looking for a non-invasive and drug-free way of managing knee pain.
What Is TENS?
TENS is a therapy that uses a small device to send gentle electrical pulses to the skin. These pulses are delivered to your painful knee area using sticky pads placed nearby. The aim? To reduce the brain’s perception of pain and make movement easier. Most people describe the sensation as a mild, comfortable tingling.
Physical therapists have used TENS for years in clinics and recommended it for home use as part of pain management programs.
What Did the Research Show?
In a 2022 study, TENS was used in people with knee osteoarthritis (Wu et al., 2022). They looked at 14 clinical trials involving 1,398 adults aged 54 to 85.
➢ Here’s what they found:
- Pain Relief: TENS helps relieve knee pain, especially when combined with other treatments like physiotherapy or exercise.
- Improved Function and Walking Ability: People using TENS alongside other therapies showed better knee function and mobility than those using other therapies alone, particularly in the medium term (less than 4 weeks) and long term (4+ weeks).
- Joint Stiffness: TENS wasn’t as effective for stiffness and probably needs to be combined with other approaches for that symptom.
Read the full article here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34971318/
Should You Try TENS for Knee Osteoarthritis?
You know how knee pain affects your mood, energy, and daily life if you live with knee osteoarthritis. Perhaps you’ve already had enough medications to be taken temporarily for insufficient relief.
TENS therapy could help in that situation.
TENS alone is not enough to cure osteoarthritis, but research suggests it can give real pain relief, particularly when used alongside other treatments such as physiotherapy, strengthening exercises and gentle movement. It is safe, drug-free and non-invasive, a good way to manage symptoms without side effects.
Using TENS can work wonders for making the day less painful, helping you move around more and find more control over your body. This extra support may allow you to walk without wincing, sleep better, and do more of the things you want to do.
Curious if it’s right for you?
Indeed, TENS therapy is a safe and drug-free way to help ease joint pain and improve mobility, and it benefits when used with other supportive treatments.
BMT: A Modern Alternative Rooted in Tradition
Bioelectric Meridian Therapy (BMT) is a modern therapy offered at ABMMA. Based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, BMT stimulates the body’s meridian pathways to:
- Relieve pain
- Restore energetic balance
- Support natural healing
BMT is a practical, effective tool for health practitioners looking to expand their approach. It integrates easily into existing care plans and supports clients with conditions like knee osteoarthritis by helping them:
- Move more freely
- Reduce inflammation
- Regain function
- Find long-term relief
Ready to Find Your Path to Relief?
TENS and BMT both offer supportive ways to manage pain, enhance mobility, and improve quality of life.
👉 Let’s talk about what suits your needs best.
Reference:
Wu, Y., Zhu, F., Chen, W., & Zhang, M. (2022). Effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in people with knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Rehabilitation, 36(4), 472–485. https://doi.org/10.1177/02692155211065636
