How TSE Works - The Basics

All pain signals from peripheral sensory nerves must pass through the central nervous system and the spinal cord to reach the brain and be perceived as pain. If pain signals can be suppressed in the spinal cord before they reach the brain, then pain can be reduced or eliminated altogether.

In 1991 Dr Alexander Macdonald and Dr Tim Coates discovered that very short but powerful electrical pulses penetrate deep tissues more effectively than longer pulses. In fact, these pulses penetrate deep enough to suppress pain signals at the junctions between peripheral sensory nerves and the central nervous system. An addtional benefit is that, because the pulses are so short, they do not cause unpleasant sensations such as muscle contractions even when delivered at high intensity.

Unlike earlier technologies where electrodes needed to be surgically implanted in order to stimulate the spinal cord, Macdonald and Coates' technique worked from the surface of the skin. They called their invention Transcutaneous Spinal Electro-analgesia (TSE).

In common with many drug therapies, the effects of TSE are well understood, but the exact mechanism(s) by which these effects are achieved are theoretical. However, several theories have been put forward as to how TSE interacts with the body's neurological system to produce pain relieving effects. If you would like to learn more about this subject read the clinical papers published on TSE.