Pain Awareness Month: TENS Technology Therapy Growing As An Effective Drug-Free Alternative For Pain Sufferers

LAKE FOREST, Ill., Sept. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- September is Pain Awareness Month and Omron Healthcare is encouraging those seeking effective drug-free pain relief to explore TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), a trusted pain therapy regularly administered by physical therapists and chiropractors that is now available for home use.

TENS therapy works by sending stimulating pulses across the surface of the skin and along nerve strands. These pulses help to block pain signals from reaching the brain to effectively alleviate chronic pain symptoms. TENS has been clinically proven³ to help relieve mild to moderate musculoskeletal pain, providing drug-free pain relief for sore or aching muscles of the lower back, shoulder, arm, leg and more.

"TENS therapy has three main attributes that make it effective. It blocks the pain message signals to the brain⁴, it stimulates the release of endorphins⁵ ? our bodies' natural painkillers ? and it improves blood circulation⁶," said Ranndy Kellogg, president and CEO of Omron Healthcare, Inc. "Previously, TENS was only available in professional medical settings. Now, this technology is available for use at home."

The National Institutes of Health (NIH)⁷ estimates that more than 126 million Americans suffer from pain with over 25 million suffering from chronic pain, which is the most common cause of long-term disability in the United States.⁸ Opioids and prescription painkillers are often associated with treatments for chronic pain, but legislation is working to diminish opioid use in the U.S. in an effort to reduce drug-related deaths. According to the CDC⁹, 2017 was a record high for drug-related deaths in the U.S, amounting to more than 72,000 people ? a majority of those occurring from opioid overdose.

With the ongoing national conversation surrounding the opioid crisis, research¹⁰ shows that nearly 78 percent of Americans are interested in finding alternative ways to manage their pain without the use of prescription medications.

"Omron was the first brand to offer a TENS device for use at home and we've invested in creating a full range of TENS products to help pain sufferers alleviate their symptoms. Our TENS devices use the same trusted technology you'd find in a doctor's office, so you can get relief wherever you are," said Kellogg.

Omron recently launched its first wireless at-home drug-free pain management device, Avail, an FDA-cleared TENS device designed to provide symptomatic relief and management of chronic and acute pain. Avail is completely wireless and uses two contoured pads that allow users to treat multiple pain sites simultaneously. It also features Bluetooth® connectivity for wireless control of settings via the Omron TENS app, for on-the-go personal pain relief.

Avail and other Omron TENS products are available for purchase at OmronHealthcare.com. Throughout Pain Awareness Month, Omron will be offering a special 30 percent discount on all TENS devices and accessories.

About Omron Healthcare, Inc.

Omron Healthcare, Inc. is a leading manufacturer and distributor of personal heart health and wellness products. Omron's market-leading products include home blood pressure monitors and electrotherapy devices. Since Omron invented its first blood pressure monitors more than 40 years ago, the company has been passionate about empowering people to take charge of their health at home through precise technology. Helping people improve their ability to live a healthier life is the heart and soul of Omron's purpose. For more information, visit OmronHealthcare.com.

SOURCE Omron Healthcare, Inc.