TENs stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. This device has been used by PTs to help patients with pain management for many years. The device helps by utilizing the Gate Control Theory of pain. This theory suggests that nerve impulses through the spine can only receive a certain amount of information at a given time, such as pain. So, if you provide a stimulus that disrupts the pain messages, you will experience less pain. A great example is when you stub your toe and automatically feel the need to rub the area to make it feel less painful. We highly recommend this for people who are looking for a drug-free alternative for pain management. This is also some evidence that using a TENs unit does help increase blood flow to the area that is being treated.