Brief intense TENS characteristic?

Brief intense TENS characteristic?

• A. Amplitude: sufficient for sensory response
• B. Pulse freq: low (2-4 pps)
• C. Pulse duration: long (150-500 usec)
• D. Tx time: 60 min

Answer: (C)

Brief intense TENS relies on delivering stimulation with a relatively long pulse duration to achieve a high-intensity, brief analgesic effect. The pulse duration is typically in the 150–500 microsecond range, which helps recruit deeper nerve fibers (like A-delta) and produce a strong sensation that can relieve pain when the amplitude is sufficiently high. Shorter pulse durations (around 50–100 microseconds) mainly activate surface fibers for sensory gating, which is how conventional TENS works, not brief intense. A low-frequency setting (2–4 pps) is associated with acupuncture-like TENS and engages a different analgesic mechanism, not the brief intense mode. Treatment duration for brief intense is usually shorter than an hour.

Brief intense TENS relies on delivering stimulation with a relatively long pulse duration to achieve a high-intensity, brief analgesic effect. The pulse duration is typically in the 150–500 microsecond range, which helps recruit deeper nerve fibers (like A-delta) and produce a strong sensation that can relieve pain when the amplitude is sufficiently high. Shorter pulse durations (around 50–100 microseconds) mainly activate surface fibers for sensory gating, which is how conventional TENS works, not brief intense. A low-frequency setting (2–4 pps) is associated with acupuncture-like TENS and engages a different analgesic mechanism, not the brief intense mode. Treatment duration for brief intense is usually shorter than an hour.