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Interferrential Therapy
 Interferrential Therapy is also known as E-STIM or TENS:
* Electrical muscle stimulation (E-Stim)
* Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
Interferrential therapy
currently is one of the most commonly used forms of electroanalgesia. Hundreds of clinical reports exist concerning the use of TENS for various types of conditions, such as low back pain (LBP), myofascial and arthritic pain, sympathetically mediated pain, bladder incontinence, neurogenic pain, visceral pain, and postsurgical pain.
Tens Units can help back and neck pain that may be caused by trauma or continual strain. The body responds to such pain with muscle guarding, an attempt to immobilize the painful area by tightening the muscles. Muscle guarding impairs circulation in the affected area. The decrease in blood supply leads to a decrease in metabolism with an accumulation of waste products. TENS therapy (transcutaneous electric nerve stimulator) can help break this pain cycle and aid in the normal healing process.
Contraindications for the use of TENS
- TENS should not be used in patients with a pacemaker (especially of the demand type).
- TENS should not be used during pregnancy, because it may induce premature labor.
- TENS should not be applied over the carotid sinuses due to the risk of acute hypotension through a vasovagal reflex.
- TENS should not be placed over the anterior neck, because laryngospasm due to laryngeal muscle contraction may occur.
- The electrodes should not be placed in an area of sensory impairment (eg, in cases of nerve lesions, neuropathies), where the possibility of burns exists.
- A TENS unit should be used cautiously in patients with a spinal cord stimulator or an intrathecal pump.
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