TENS units

Research on transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, or TENS, looks at a small device that delivers mild electrical pulses through skin pads, used for labor pain. A review covers the use of TENS in labor pain, and a randomized pilot study tested varying frequencies against a sham. One trial compares Entonox and TENS, and others combine TENS with acupoint stimulation, including a stepped wedge trial and its protocol, or with epidural analgesia.

TENS has also been studied for pain after cesarean birth, in a randomized trial, and in a review of complementary therapies for post-caesarean pain. Broader works place TENS among other methods: an overview of systematic reviews covers pain management for women in labour, and an expert review covers pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic options. Researchers continue to study which settings and combinations are of interest.

Parents often ask whether TENS works and how it compares with other pain relief. An educator may want slides that describe what the device is and how it has been tested, while leaving questions of use to the care team. The papers below are the ones the Hub tracks on this topic.