PROFESSIONAL SUPPLIES
Labour of love
new ‘micro’ version of the TENS machine, the portable device used by pregnant women for pain during labour, promises to transform the lives of millions of arthritis sufferers.
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The BrodTENS bracelet is being hailed by researchers as a major breakthrough in saving rheumatoid arthritis patients from worsening pain and disability.
Case studies have shown that the band - similar in size to, and worn like, a small watch - ‘’significantly’’ reduces short and long-term pain.
It is based on transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TENS) machines, which stimulate nerves with low-voltage pulses of electricity.
But unlike existing devices, which are often bulky and require batteries, the bracelet weighs just 20 grams and is powered by the body’s own moisture.
The BrodTENS goes on sale across the UK from today priced £80. Clinical trials are still needed, but the device could be made available on the NHS in less than five years.
Inventor Nigel Broderick said it has the ‘’very real potential’’ of helping the world’s 67 million arthritis sufferers.
He said: ‘’This is the ultimate health bracelet. It’s a one stop rejuvenation, maintenance and repair centre for the whole body.
‘’It’s light, affordable, and has the very real potential of alleviating the pain experienced by millions of people on a daily basis.’’
Rheumatoid arthritis is the Nov/Dec 10
biggest cause of disability in the UK, affecting 420,000 people in England and Wales alone. It produces inflammation and damages cartilage and bone.
Sufferers are usually treated with a combination of drugs, depending on the severity of the disease and its symptoms.
But a large number fail to respond to the drugs or build up a resistance to them. Others are put off by their price - a year’s supply can cost upwards of £300.
For 30 years, thousands of Britons have turned to Tens machines in a bid to alleviate the pain.
They deliver small electrical pulses to the body via electrodes placed on the skin, and are seen by many pregnant women as the answer to an affordable, and drug-free alternative for labour pains.
It is unclear how Tens may provide pain relief, but one theory is that stimulating nerves may confuse the brain and block real pain signals from getting through.
The BrodTENS uses clever battery-free technology that utilises the natural moisture in the skin.
This produces a small microcurrent of up to 250 microamps, which penetrate the cell walls to promote and stimulate healing and reduce the feeling of pain.
The current is so small that it matches the body’s own natural current and won’t trigger the body’s sensory receptors. This means users have no ‘tingling’ or discomfort, and are able to wear the device around the clock.
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