2023-09-25
In the 18th century electrostatic generators helped to popularise electrotherapy but increasing use of pharmacological treatments meant that use of electrotherapy had declined by the late 19th century. In 1965 interest in the use of electricity to relieve pain was re-kindled following the publication of Melzack and Wall's “Pain Mechanisms: A New Theory”. They suggested that electrical stimuli could be used to activate large diameter peripheral afferents in order to inhibit central transmission of noxious information.
Clinical observations confirmed that electrical stimulation of peripheral afferents, dorsal columns and descending pain inhibitory pathways were able to reduce pain in patients. Initially TENS was used to predict the success of dorsal column stimulation implants until it was realised that TENS could be used as a successful modality on its own.
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