History of Electrical Pain Relief:
Anyone who has had an X-ray, used a heart rate monitor, or had an MRI scan is familiar with the use of electronic medical devices for diagnostic purposes. Less familiar though, may be the use of electronic medical devices for treatment purposes.
One of the most common therapeutic applications of electronic medical devices is pain relief. These electrotherapy devices are accepted as a viable alternative to pharmaceutical methods for pain relief and are routinely used both at home and in hopitals by physiotherapists and other medical professionals.
Early Origins of Electrotherapy.
Believe it or not, electricity has been used to relieve pain since circa 2750BC when the ancient Egyptians took advantage of the unique characteristics of the Torpedo fish. Rather like electric eels, this fish is capable of producing powerful electrical shocks.
Our ancestors used these electrical shocks to relieve pain by placing the fish on painful regions of the body. This technique was also used in 47 AD by Scribonium Largus, physician to the Roman emperor Claudius, who said:
"...For any sort of foot gout, when the pain comes on it is good to put a living black torpedo fish under his feet while standing on the beach, not dry but one on which the sea washes, until he feels that his whole foot and ankle are numb up to the knees."
18th Century - Man-made electricity
Little progress in the field of electrotherapy was made until man discovered how to generate electricity for himself:
• In 1752 Benjamin Franklin used electrostatic machines to treat patients in pain.
• In 1892 the Thomas Edison laboratory produced machines that could induce local anesthesia during surgery.
1967 onwards - Modern Electrotherapy:
Modern electrotherapy has moved on someway from its aquatic origins. Perhaps the biggest single advance in electrotherapy to date was made by Ron Melzack and Pat Wall when they published their landmark paper describing a "gate control theory of pain reduction" in 1967.
Their work led to the first Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) device.
Today, TENS is used worldwide to combat a vast range of pain conditions in a non-invasive, non-addictive, 100% safe and drug-free manner.
