• Period pain
• Labor pain
• Postoperative pain
• Joint pain
• Neck and back pain
• Endometriosis
• Arthritis
• Sports injuries
• Multiple sclerosis

• Fibromyalgia
• Painful diabetic neuropathy
• Spinal cord injury
• Peripheral artery disease
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Bursitis
• Low back pain
• Tendinitis

Contraindications

• Patients who do not comprehend the physiotherapist’s instructions or who are unable to co-operate
• It has been widely cited that application of the electrodes over the trunk, abdomen or pelvis during pregnancy is contraindicated BUT a recent review suggests that although not an ideal (first line) treatment option, application of TENS around the trunk during pregnancy can be safely applied, and no detrimental effects have been reported in the literature
• TENS during labour for pain relief is both safe and effective

Precautions

• If there is abnormal skin sensation, the electrodes should preferably be positioned elsewhere to ensure effective stimulation
• Electrodes should not be placed over the eyes
• Patients who have epilepsy should be treated at the discretion of the therapist in consultation with the appropriate medical practitioner as there have been anecdotal reports of adverse outcomes, most especially (but not exclusively) associated with treatments to the neck and upper thoracic areas
• Avoid active epiphyseal regions in children (though there is no direct evidence of adverse effect)
• The use of abdominal electrodes during labour may interfere with foetal monitoring equipment and is therefore best avoided.