Nerve Stimulation Device Helps Relieve Lower Back Pain

An innovative, drug-free device uses transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for temporary relief of muscular pain in the lower back.

The Bayer Aleve Direct Therapy device is a high quality, durable pad that provides a high level of TENS stimulation waveform intensity, which both blocks the transmission of pain and stimulates production of endorphins, the body's natural pain reducing chemicals. The device can be worn discretely and comfortably throughout the day on the user's lower back, even during some physical activities, and can be controlled via a wireless remote control. Users go through a three-stage therapy session that can be repeated as necessary, with 30-minute breaks between sessions.

The first stage, during which high-frequency stimulation first initiates pain suppression, lasts five minutes. A 20-minute second stage offers low-frequency stimulation to increase the release of endorphins. The final stage lasts an additional five minutes and offers the same high-frequency stimulation as stage one, to maintain the feeling of pain relief. The Bayer Aleve Direct Therapy device is a product of Bayer HealthCare (Leverkusen, Germany), and has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“Aleve Direct Therapy puts controllable TENS technology in consumers hands without having to visit the doctor. It provides high intensity of power and its wireless remote control makes it easy to adjust the power of intensity to fit the user's needs,” said Andre Schmidt, vice president of U.S. medical affairs for Bayer’s consumer health division. “We are pleased to be able to provide this safe, drug-free and convenient self-care option to help consumers get the relief they need from lower back pain.”

TENS is one of the most commonly used forms of electroanalgesia for various types of conditions, such as lower back, myofascial, arthritic, neurogenic, visceral, and postsurgical pain, as well as bladder incontinence. TENS produces neuromodulation by presynaptic inhibition in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, endogenous pain control via endorphins, enkephalins, and dynorphins, direct inhibition of an abnormally excited nerve, and restoration of afferent input. The mechanism of the analgesia produced by TENS is explained by gate-control theory.

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