0800 028 1400 or

Back

Benefits of TSE
How TSE Works
How to Use TSE
FAQ on TSE
TSE vs TENS
Important
Information

Testimonials
	"Acticare TSE has reduced major pain and allowed me to get on with my life..."
read more...

TENS and TSE - What is the Difference?

TENS - the foundation of modern electrotherapy

TSE - the next step

The age of modern electrotherapy opened in 1967 when Pat Wall and Ron Melzack described their 'gate control' theory of pain reduction that led to the development of the first 'TENS' (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) machines. TENS is now widely used to treat chronic pain although patients can require many hours of treatment and may find the tingling sensation produced uncomfortable.

Controlling chronic pain by stimulating the spinal cord was achieved shortly afterwards using implanted stimulators. These 'SCS' (Spinal Cord Stimulation) devices are increasingly used, particularly in the USA.

In 1991 Dr Alex Macdonald and Dr Tim Coates, inspired by TENS and implanted spinal cord stimulators, succeeded in developing a method of stimulating the spinal cord that required no surgical procedure whatsoever - 'TSE' (Transcutaneous Spinal Electroanalgesia). Their method is very easy-to-use, produces little or no tingling sensations, and can treat multiple pains anywhere in the body at the same time.

Today the Macdonald and Coates' approach is available to you in its most advanced and sophisticated form - Acticare TSE - a device that is ten times more powerful than the leading portable TENS machines available on the high street.

Dr Alex Macdonald. Co-inventor of TSE.

Comparison

Acticare TSE provides both TSE and TENS treatments, including high-frequency TENS, a powerful form of TENS. We recommend TSE for most chronic conditions, but sometimes the strong tingling sensation from TENS is helpful with new injury. The table below lists the differences between the two treatments.

	TSE	TENS
Electrode positioning	Always over your spine in one of two standard positions.	Placed over the nerve supplying the painful region. Non-standardized location that often requires expert advice.
Sensation	TSE is virtually sensationless, allowing use whilst asleep.	TENS creates a tingling sensation that is sometimes uncomfortable and often keeps people awake.
Treatable regions	Whole body simultaneously.	One per channel.
Minimum time to gain relief	20 minutes.	30 minutes.
Percentage of chronic pain sufferers who obtain relief	more than 70%	50%
Post-treatment relief	Several hours or more.	30-120 minutes.
Long term effectiveness	Can be cumulative.	Diminishing with time.
Beneficial mood changes	Makes you feel more elated, leisurely, and less tense.	None known.