Pain can cause discomfort throughout our lives. Pain can be caused by a variety of health conditions and situations like injuries, labour, and periods. Labour pain is something most women experience during childbirth and thankfully there are now ways to make it more tolerant and comfortable. Fortunately, nowadays, there are methods that can help you control and manage the pain to make it more bearable. Electrotherapy is a pain management treatment that uses electrical impulses to stimulate nerves. The nerve stimulation can help decrease the pain sensations. Moreover, pain specialists mainly use TENS devices to help with pain control. TENS devices rely on the sensory aspect of our bodies when managing pain. For labour pain, you can use an obstetric TENS once labour begins. This device can drastically help reduce pain, especially in the early stages of labour. Furthermore, TENS devices can also effectively reduce pain from conditions like:
- Arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Sciatica
- Tendonitis
Gate Control Theory
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is a form of electrotherapy that uses low-voltage electrical currents to stimulate our nerves. Pain reduction via electrical stimulation falls under the “Gate Control Theory” for pain management. The theory states that constant electrical stimulation on our nerves can cause the closure of specific sensory pathways. These pathways are where our pain signals pass through to reach our brains. Closure of these pathways can lead to less transmission of pain signals, reducing the pain sensations felt. Furthermore, TENS therapy also helps in endorphin release. Endorphins are our body’s natural pain killers. You can see these effects when using an obstetric TENS like the iTENS from iTENS Australia.
Obstetric TENS: Advantages of a Wireless Device
Pain during labour can easily cause discomfort. Furthermore, it is essential to note that uncontrollable movements can happen throughout labour. Having a wireless device can drastically help improve safety during labour. Moreover, sudden flinching due to pain can easily disrupt the wirings of standard machines. A disruption of wirings in the treatment may cause discomfort and shocks. This scenario is less likely when using a wireless device like the iTENS from iTENS Australia. TENS therapy through a wireless device can allow more freedom of movement for labour and other treatments. Without a doubt, a wireless device like the iTENS can make for an effective obstetric TENS unit.
Besides being an obstetric TENS machine during labour, the iTENS can also help during recovery. During recovery it is important to take care of your body and rest as necessary. However, once you feel you are past the recovery period and the doctor gives you the green light for exercise, you can further use the iTENS to help with your recovery process. A completely wireless device allows for effective exercise routines even during TENS therapy. Furthermore, having no restrictions to your movements can allow you to perform more rigorous exercises. Effective exercises can help improve blood circulation. Improved circulation can drastically affect:
- Muscle Regeneration
- Nerve Regeneration
- Muscle Soreness
- Muscle Knots
- Recovery time (have a faster recovery period)
Obstetric TENS: Using the iTENS
When using the iTENS as an obstetric TENS machine, it is essential to attach the device before turning it on. Labour can start at any moment, and however, even with all the rushing, you should remember the basic iTENS instructions. This method can help prevent sudden shocks and skin or nerve irritations. Furthermore, you can use the iTENS app to start your TENS therapy once attached.
The iTENS app contains various pre-set parameters to treat specific conditions and body areas optimally. The pre-set settings allow for instant obstetric TENS therapy at a push of a button. Having pre-set your settings in advance of labour will ensure that you are all set to use your iTENS when you need it and not have to worry about working out what to use especially when there are more important things to focus on. You no longer need to adjust anything once the labour starts. This feature can significantly help with the convenience of pain management during labour.
Features
To further add to the comfort of obstetric TENS treatments, the iTENS also has a “manual mode” feature. This feature allows the user to personalize their treatments. Having personalized treatment parameters can help users accommodate the electrical stimulation better. Furthermore, this mode will enable you to manually adjust the intensity, frequency, pulse width and pulse duration. Additionally, this mode can come in handy during your recovery process after giving birth. During manual mode, professionals recommend starting with the lowest possible intensity and frequency. Adjust the iTENS parameters gradually to prevent sudden shocks and discomfort. Pad placement is also a vital part of using a TENS device. You should pay close attention to where you place the pads.
Obstetric TENS: Pad Placement
Pad placement can drastically affect the effectiveness of the nerve stimulation. It is essential to place the pads near or over the area to be treated. This method allows the electrical currents to flow through your nerves effectively. Furthermore, it is vital to cover the right amount of surface area. For example, TENS therapy with small electrode pads on the back could be ineffective. The iTENS features three different pad sizes, which allow for optimal nerve stimulation. Furthermore, having different pad sizes enables the iTENS to be an effective obstetric TENS device. The iTENS pads are interchangeable, allowing users to use the device in many different areas. This feature also helps improve the iTENS’ accessibility.
iTENS Pad Sizing
With interchangeable pads, the iTENS can be an effective obstetric TENS machine and still treat other conditions. Different pad sizes allow you to treat other health conditions or body areas. This feature can drastically help improve the user’s comfort as they are recovering from childbirth. Devices like the iTENS from iTENS Australia can effectively treat several conditions and body parts, making it a good investment. When using the iTENS, you can use this as a guide for pad sizing:
- Large iTENS electrode wing pads: These pads are for big areas like the back and shoulder
- Long iTENS electrode wing pads: These pads are for elongated treatment areas like the leg up to your back. These pads are effective for conditions like sciatica.
- Small iTENS electrode wing pads: These are mainly for small and flexible areas like the ankle and wrist. You can discreetly wear these pads under your clothes during treatment.
Is TENS Therapy Safe?
Electrotherapy with TENS devices like the iTENS from iTENS Australia is a non-toxic, safe, and all-natural method for pain relief. Unlike some oral pain medications, TENS devices do not have any adverse side effects, so you can use this as an obstetric TENS machine. Moreover, you can use a TENS device throughout the day. However, it is essential to remember to take 20-minute breaks in between sessions. Furthermore, the iTENS unit has FDA approval to be a safe personal pain relief device. Additionally, before purchasing your first TENS device, you can consult a doctor or physiotherapist to ask them about the benefits of electrotherapy. People with epilepsy, cancer patients, and people with cardiac pacemakers should avoid TENS machines.
