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Aswad -> RE: TENS Unit Trouble! (8/24/2011 7:38:10 PM)
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~fr~
Above the waist is perfectly legitimate with a quality unit, but requires some knowledge of the anatomy, the working principles of the unit used and the basics of electrical conduction in the human body. This is something one could get off Wikipedia, if so inclined, with the usual caveats about checking the sources. One should never (IMO) apply a current above T1, and definitely not cross the midline above T1. The former is due to the possibility of affecting the blood flow in the case of a deep conduction problem, and the latter is due to the possibility of stimulating or damaging nerves that should not be stimulated or damaged. Staying below the knee of the sternum, not crossing the midline, not crossing the midplane, and avoiding the heart, are measures that will offer most of the safety of a more well read approach without the effort (let's face it, some people will do it without reading up on it; this is harm reduction, not an endorsement).
Sweating and flushing provides an opportunity for deeper conduction, which is undesireable. However, if the application of the electrodes is otherwise sensible, a quality unit won't deliver sufficient current to cause more damage than any other accident in play, and should ideally shut down right away. The simplest test for whether it will shut down is to press the pads together and turning the unit on a low setting. If it doesn't signal an error and stop, it will probably not detect excessive deep conduction (although any medically certified unit should prevent heart stopping currents). There is some chance of ill effects from deep conduction, even at low currents, but I would generally be comfortable with keeping an eye on breathing, making sure there's healthy screaming going on, and watching out for unexpected spasms (i.e. jerking motions of a different character than voluntary or pain-related jerking), taking some pauses to check on things now and then. The risk is after all associated with the failure of two to three different sets of safety mechanisms in the first place.
Units or settings that can deliver enough juice to cause significant jerking in normal use, owing to direct muscle stimulation, are a different matter. I've no experience with those. Regular electro isn't really my thing to begin with, but variety is the spice of life and a source of compatibilities, after all. Incidentally, does anyone have experience with insulated needle electrodes? Not that I'm planning on poking any cruri, but... inquiring minds...
Health,
al-Aswad.
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