Using a TENS Unit for Knee Pain and Proper Placement of the Electrode Pads
The knees are one of the most used joints in the body. They are used for all kinds of daily activities, including walking, running, climbing stairs, and getting in and out of your car. They are also responsible for carrying the weight of your body.
Unfortunately, as a result of excessive use, trauma, or injury, it’s not uncommon for pain to develop in the knees. When you experience knee pain, your life can be greatly impacted. Not only can it limit your mobility, but it can negatively impact your well-being.
Causes of Knee Pain
There are several reasons why knee pain can occur. Some of the most common causes include:
Tendon Ruptures. This happens when the quadriceps and the patellar tendons rupture either partially or completely.
Damage to the Meniscus. Injuries or trauma can cause a piece of the meniscus to tear off and float in the knee joint, causing significant pain.
Dislocation. A powerful blow to the knee can cause the lower leg to become completely displaced in relation to the upper leg. This can stretch and tear the ligaments, the arteries and the nerves. A dislocation is rare and is considered a limb-threatening emergency that requires immediate medical attention.
Managing Knee Pain
In the most serious cases, surgery may be required to fix the damage to the knee and ease the pain that damage causes. For those who do not require surgical treatment, a TENS unit can be used to help manage pain in the knees.
What is a TENS Unit?
A transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit is used as a treatment strategy for pain. A TENS unit is a small, battery-operated, portable device that sends electrical signals to the sight of the pain and helps to control that pain.
How to Use a TENS Unit for Knee Pain
In order for a TENS unit to provide proper pain relief, it is imperative that the device is placed in the appropriate location. Determining exactly where the pain in the knee is located is crucial, as this is the location where the pads need to be placed.
You also need to determine how many pads you need to place on the localized area of knee pain. Two or four pads are most commonly used to treat pain. Two pads are typically used while four electrode pads will cover a wider area. The spot where you will place the pads of your portable TENS unit depends on where the source of your pain is located. Common locations for pad placement include:
The sides of the knee, the back of the knee, and the front of the knee:
Typically for the placement of the pads, you should avoid the kneecap. Generally, when using the TENS pads, you want to surround the kneecap by placing a pad on each side. If needed you can place four pads totally surrounding the knee. Also, not on the above illustration, but occasionally people will suffer from pain in the back of the knee and placement on the back of the knee is acceptable too.
Once in place, turn the device on to produce electronic muscle stimulation. With proper placement, this form of electrotherapy can greatly reduce the amount of pain that you experience in your knee and can provide some increased range of motion and flexibility.
Get Information about our TENS units for Knee Pain
There is a wealth of TENS unit reviews and testimonials that supports the pain relief that TENS therapy can provide. If you already have a TENS machine and want to upgrade to the world's best tens unit with impeccable customer service, then feel free to order here.
Here at Utopia Gear, we can answer your questions about transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy for knee pain and our TENS and EMS devices. Email us at customerservice@utopiagear.com or call us at 888-237-4997.
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