Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is thought to work by:

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is thought to work by:

• A. Overriding the body's pain signals via the gate theory or stimulating endorphin release.
• B. Causing deep tissue heating to reduce pain.
• C. Directly inhibiting neurotransmitters in the brain.
• D. Delivering antibiotics to the injury site.

Answer: (A)

TENS analgesia comes from modulating how pain signals are processed by the nervous system. When the device stimulates the skin, it activates large-diameter A-beta fibers. These signals enter the spinal cord and activate inhibitory interneurons in the dorsal horn, which dampen the transmission of pain signals from the slower, nociceptive fibers up to the brain. This is the gate control effect—your brain ultimately receives fewer pain signals, so you feel less pain. Additionally, certain TENS settings can engage the body’s own pain-relief systems, triggering the release of endorphins and enkephalins. These endogenous opioids act within the spinal cord and brain to further reduce pain perception. So, the primary idea is that TENS works by (1) blocking or reducing pain signal transmission at the spinal level through gate control and (2) boosting endogenous analgesia via opioid mechanisms. This is not about heating tissue, directly inhibiting brain neurotransmitters, or delivering antibiotics.

TENS analgesia comes from modulating how pain signals are processed by the nervous system. When the device stimulates the skin, it activates large-diameter A-beta fibers. These signals enter the spinal cord and activate inhibitory interneurons in the dorsal horn, which dampen the transmission of pain signals from the slower, nociceptive fibers up to the brain. This is the gate control effect—your brain ultimately receives fewer pain signals, so you feel less pain.

Additionally, certain TENS settings can engage the body’s own pain-relief systems, triggering the release of endorphins and enkephalins. These endogenous opioids act within the spinal cord and brain to further reduce pain perception.

So, the primary idea is that TENS works by (1) blocking or reducing pain signal transmission at the spinal level through gate control and (2) boosting endogenous analgesia via opioid mechanisms. This is not about heating tissue, directly inhibiting brain neurotransmitters, or delivering antibiotics.