When you visit a chiropractor, you expect them to adjust your spine. What you may not expect is for them to use other, supplemental treatments. But the truth is, these supplemental treatments are often helpful for enhancing the care your chiropractor provides. One such treatment your chiropractor may use is called TENS, or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Here are some key reasons why chiropractors tend to use TENS.

TENS is safe and non-invasive.

Chiropractors really like to focus on safe, whole-body care. TENS fits that modality well. TENS involves placing electrodes on your muscles. These electrodes deliver low-key, mild electrical impulses to your muscles, causing them to contract and relax repeatedly. TENS is therefore non-invasive. It does not penetrate your skin, and it does not require you to take any medications. As such, it is safe and can be used to treat a wide range of patients without worry.

TENS relaxes and loosens the muscles.

Chiropractors focus on adjusting the spine and other joints. But in order to do this well, they need the muscles to be supple. This is why it's often recommended that patients receive a massage before seeing a chiropractor. Using the TENS device can have a similar effect. The device over-stimulates your muscles so much that they relax once the treatment is over. Your chiropractor will then have an easier time moving your vertebrae back in place, and the vertebrae may also stay in place for longer after your adjustment.

TENS helps relieve pain.

Chiropractic adjustments can certainly relieve back and neck pain. However, they don't always deliver instant pain relief. It may take you a day or two to really feel looser and more comfortable. TENS, however, does tend to immediately relieve your pain after treatment. It can give you some short-term pain relief while you're waiting for the adjustment to take full effect.

TENS can be sent home with patients.

Another reason chiropractors use TENS is that patients can take a device home with them. If you have someone who can place the electrodes on your back, you can safely use one of these devices at home to enjoy some relief between chiropractic visits. It only takes a few minutes.

If you visit a chiropractic clinic and they use a TENS device on you, now you won't be surprised. Hopefully, through the content above, it is easy to understand why these devices are such a good fit for the chiropractic treatment modality.