During long-term TENS use, sensory receptors may accommodate to the continuous current. Which modulation strategy prevents this accommodation?

During long-term TENS use, sensory receptors may accommodate to the continuous current. Which modulation strategy prevents this accommodation?

• A. It continues to respond; increase current
• B. It becomes more painful; stop using TENS
• C. Receptors accommodate; switch to modulation (burst) mode
• D. It becomes fatigued; decrease electrode size

Answer: (C)

Receptors adapt to a continuous electrical stimulus, so the sensation and the pain-relieving effect can fade with long-term TENS use. Switching to burst-mode modulation introduces brief on/off periods, giving receptors time to reset and preserving the intermittent input needed to sustain gate-control analgesia. This intermittent stimulation prevents sensory accommodation better than simply increasing current, stopping use, or changing electrode size, which don’t address the adaptation mechanism.

Receptors adapt to a continuous electrical stimulus, so the sensation and the pain-relieving effect can fade with long-term TENS use. Switching to burst-mode modulation introduces brief on/off periods, giving receptors time to reset and preserving the intermittent input needed to sustain gate-control analgesia. This intermittent stimulation prevents sensory accommodation better than simply increasing current, stopping use, or changing electrode size, which don’t address the adaptation mechanism.