Type
Electrical Muscle Stimulation
Duration
30 min
What's included
4 deliverables in this treatment
- Clinical TENS session with algesiologist-selected electrode placement and parameters
- Explanation of gate-control and endogenous opioid mechanisms relevant to your condition
- Option to borrow a portable TENS device for home use between sessions
- Integration into your overall pain management plan
TENS (Transcutaneous Electro-Neuro Stimulation) at Bolest Brno uses precisely calibrated rectangular electrical currents applied through skin electrodes to interrupt pain signalling pathways at the nerve level. The technique is well-established in pain medicine: low-frequency TENS activates endogenous opioid release, while high-frequency TENS works by 'gating' pain signals in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. One of the distinctive features of Bolest Brno's TENS programme is that patients can borrow portable TENS devices from the clinic's outpatient department for home use between sessions — extending the benefit of clinical treatment into daily life without additional expense. The treatment is covered by Czech general health insurance for insured patients and is offered as part of the clinic's multimodal pain management approach.
About this treatment
TENS (Transcutaneous Electro-Neuro Stimulation) is one of the most studied non-pharmacological analgesic techniques in clinical pain management, with a mechanism grounded in two well-validated models:
- 1 Gate control theory (Melzack & Wall, 1965): High-frequency TENS (80–150 Hz) stimulates large-diameter Aβ sensory fibres, which 'close the gate' to pain signals carried by smaller Aδ and C fibres at the level of the dorsal horn in the spinal cord. The result is a reduction in the central perception of pain without affecting the nociceptive signal at its source.
- 1 Endogenous opioid release: Low-frequency TENS (2–10 Hz) preferentially activates Aδ fibres and stimulates the release of β-endorphins and enkephalins — the body's own pain-relieving neuropeptides. This effect outlasts the treatment session and explains why repeated TENS sessions can produce cumulative benefit.
Good to know
- Mechanism
- Gate control (high freq) + endogenous opioid release (low freq)
- Coverage
- Czech general health insurance
- Home device loan
- Available from the outpatient department
- Session duration
- 20–40 minutes
Who is this for?
Acute and chronic pain across musculoskeletal, neurological and post-operative conditions, especially patients with limited pharmacological options.
Preparation required
No preparation required. Wear or bring clothing that allows easy electrode access to the target area. Remove metal jewellery near the treatment site. Inform the practitioner if you have a cardiac pacemaker, implanted defibrillator or any electronic implant — TENS cannot be used in these cases.
About the clinic
Reviews, team and credentials
Independent review links and clinic-reported team information.
Clinical team
The clinic is directed by MUDr. Marek Hakl, PhD. (b. 1968), Associate Professor at Masaryk University Faculty of Medicine, PhD in Medical Sciences (2003), holding certifications in Anesthesiology & Resuscitation (1st and 2nd degree), independent algeziology, acupuncture and palliative medicine. He is Vice-chair of the Czech Medical Association Pain Study and Treatment Society and a member of the International…
Languages: Czech, English, French, Russian
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Treatment highlights
- Clinical TENS session with algesiologist-selected electrode placement and parameters
- Explanation of gate-control and endogenous opioid mechanisms relevant to your condition
+2 more items in What's included
Covered by Czech general health insurance for insured patients. No self-pay rate published. TENS devices may be borrowed from the clinic for home use between sessions at no additional charge.