♪ Bob and Brad ♪
♪ The two most famous ♪
♪ Physical therapists ♪
♪ On the internet ♪
- Hi, folks, I'm Bob Schrupp, physical therapist.
- Brad Heineck, physical therapist.
- We are the most famous
physical therapists on the internet.
- In our opinion, of course,
Bob. - Today, what we're gonna talk
about, is TENS safe?
Can everyone use it?
We're gonna talk about the warning and precautions.
This is gonna be a
pretty dry video, Brad. (Brad laughs)
But, for those of you who don't wanna look it up,
by the way, we'll have a printout of this, also,
so you can not listen to us if you don't want to.
You can just go to our website,
and go to the PDF, there'll be a printout
that accompanies this particular video.
So, you go to the Bob and Brad,
you go to the programs section, and look for
the TENS videos, and you'll find this one,
is TENS safe, can everyone use it, warnings, precautions.
And, it'll have this entire list that we're going over.
- All right-- - So, TENS,
oh, go ahead. - I just wanna say,
before we get on to the list,
I think Bob'll agree, through my experience,
95% of the people I've worked with are fine to use it.
There are a few things that may apply to you,
and if this is one of them,
well then, you're not a candidate,
but-- - Yeah, believe me,
they're trying to cover all their butts here.
(laughs) You know, with as far (Brad laughs)
as by listing all the warnings and precautions,
'cause most of these are not an issue with most people.
So, it is safe for most people to use.
They're usually not gonna experience any side effects.
Serious side effects are really rare.
There are people that may be allergic to
the adhesive pads, and get a mild skin irritation,
but I've seen that with tape.
And, you have to switch to a hypoallergenic pad.
The electrical impulses of the TENS unit
causes a buzzing, a tingling, a prickling sensation,
and some people might find that uncomfortable.
- Right.
- And, as Brad's gonna start talking about
the warnings now, why don't you jump in, Brad?
I was gonna jump ahead and mention one of them,
but it's one of your first ones you're gonna mention.
- Consult with your physician, right.
And, of course, that's something
you probably expected us to say.
And again, if you're using one
and the pain does not improve,
or you're not having positive effects from it,
again, then consult back with
your physician. - Yeah, if your pain
is continuing and continuing and not stopping,
and you never had seen a physician about it,
then you should see him or her.
- Right, right.
Do not apply stimulation, or the pads over your neck, okay?
- We're trying to avoid the carotid arteries there.
- Exactly. - You could throw
off your rhythm there.
- Yep, and they talk about potential
for muscles cramping, causing breathing issues.
Do not apply stimulation across your chest,
because of cardiac potential problems.
Do not apply stimulation over the open wounds.
Basically, you're not gonna put it over unhealthy skin.
If you got a rash, open wounds, anything that's
not clean, healthy skin, you're not gonna use it.
If you're elderly, and you have frail skin,
you're not a candidate, as well.
If you get easy skin tears, you're not a candidate.
- Does it mention hair?
'Cause, generally, you don't wanna put
it on anywhere real hairy.
You wanna-- - It's not gonna hurt
anything, it's just painful when you (laughs)
take the pad off.
So, it's good to shave
the skin with-- - A little bit
of hair is okay, - The hair.
- but it's gonna pull off.
- Yeah, and it doesn't make as good a contact,
so it can be more uncomfortable.
- Sure.
- Do not apply over any area where there's
a cancerous lesion.
You know, that's a potential problem there, as well.
Do not apply stimulation over a bath,
or when you're taking a bath or a shower.
- All right, don't-- - Any water.
- Yeah, you don't take this
into the water. (Brad laughs)
I mean, it needs to be said, Brad,
'cause some people think that it might be waterproof,
and it'll give you a good electrical stim if you do that.
- And, this is a good one.
Do not apply stimulation while you're sleeping.
You definitely don't wanna
do that. - That's, a lot
of people are gonna ask that, Brad.
- Yep, that's for sure.
- It's a good question, because they're having pain
at night, and they probably want to try
to fall asleep with it on, and we don't want that.
- Do not apply stimulation while you're driving,
operating equipment, if you're at work.
All those could cause potential problems.
Consult again with your physician
when using this device.
It may cause lethal rhythm disturbances
to the heart in susceptible individuals.
So, if you have heart problems already,
I've never used it with anybody
with heart conditions where it's a problem.
- Well, definitely a pacemaker,
you definitely don't wanna apply it
to any type of cardiac monitor or pacemaker system.
- Right.
- All right, should I jump in Brad?
- Sure.
- So, these are precautions, they're not
as serious as warnings, but it's not really effective
generally for headaches, and they definitely don't
want you putting one on each side of your head, a pad.
They say it has no curative value,
I disagree with that a little bit,
if by using the TENS unit allows you
to start moving, it may allow your pain
to start to heal quicker. - Sure.
Right, as a result of
the extra movement. - The movement, right.
A lot of these are just not even good to even mention.
The safety of electrical stimulation
during pregnancy has not been established.
So, I really wouldn't wanna do it if you're pregnant.
We just always say stay away from that.
- Yeah.
- We mentioned the skin irritation,
that already has been brought up.
If you do have heart disease,
you're gonna wanna make sure your physician is aware.
If you have suspected or diagnosed epilepsy,
you wanna make sure that you follow
the suggestions by your physicians.
If you tend to bleed internally,
such as following an injury or fracture,
you won't wanna go ahead and provide this on.
Consult with your physician if you wanna use
this after a surgery, 'cause it might
actually interfere with the surgery results.
Keep this device out of the reach of children.
You don't wanna use it on skin
that lacks sensation, unless you have someone
that knows what they're doing with you.
I think that's about it, Brad.
Everything else, we've kind of already stated,
so I know, again, it was a dry video,
but we want a lot of you,
if you're thinking about purchasing a unit,
we didn't want have you to look things up.
So, we set it, and you can also read it
in the attached handout.
- Right, thank you.
- Thanks.
(upbeat music)