Digital TENS Electrical nerve and muscle stimulator Instructions for use 1. 2. 2.1 2.2 2.3 3. 4. 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 5. 6. 7. 8. 8.1 8.2 9. 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 10. How will these instructions help you? ........................ 31 Background information ............................................. 31 What is pain? ............................................................. 31 What is TENS? .......................................................... 31 What is EMS? ............................................................ 31 The Digital TENS ....................................................... 32 Your safety is important to us .................................... 32 For what range of use is the Digital TENS suitable? ..................................................................... 32 For what range of use is the Digital TENS unsuitable? ................................................................. 33 For what areas of application is the Digital TENS suitable? ................................................ 33 For what areas of application is the Digital TENS unsuitable? ............................................ 33 Other points to consider.............................................. 34 How to protect the Digital TENS ................................. 35 Unpacking and checking the goods as supplied......... 36 Inserting the battery .................................................... 37 The controls and displays on the Digital TENS .............................................................. 38 Controls ...................................................................... 38 Displays ...................................................................... 40 Carrying out treatment ................................................ 41 What you need to take into account when carrying out treatment..................................................................... 41 Where should you not attach the self-adhesive electrodes? ................................................................. 41 Where can you attach the self-adhesive electrodes? ................................................................. 41 How to carry out treatment ......................................... 42 Setting up the Digital TENS ....................................... 45 10.3 Selecting the operating mode .................................... 46 10.4 Pre-setting the duration of treatment .......................... 48 10.5 Switching the programme lock on and off................... 48 11. 12. Calling up and re-setting the usage monitoring facility ........................................................ 49 Cleaning and caring for your Digital TENS ................. 50 12.1 Cleaning...................................................................... 50 12.2 Changing the self-adhesive electrodes....................... 50 12.3 Changing the battery .................................................. 50 12.4 Storing your Digital TENS .......................................... 50 13. 14. 15. What to do if there's a problem ................................... 51 Re-ordering accessories ............................................. 51 Service and Warranty ................................................. 52 15.1 Service address .......................................................... 52 15.2 Warranty and indemnity .............................................. 52 16. 17. 18. 19. Waste disposal and care of the environment .............. 52 Technical data ............................................................. 53 What do the labels on the Digital TENS mean? ........ 54 Examples of treatment using TENS ............................ 55 caused by a problem in the cervical spine .................. 55 19.2 Neck and shoulder pain .............................................. 55 19.3 Pain in the elbow ........................................................ 55 19.4 Pain in the region of the lumbar spine ........................ 55 19.5 Pain in the knee .......................................................... 55 19.6 Pain in the hip ............................................................. 56 19.7 Pain in the ankle ......................................................... 56 20. Examples of treatment using EMS ............................. 56 20.1 Biceps (upper arm) .................................................... 56 20.2 Triceps (upper arm) .................................................... 56 20.3 Firm abdominal muscles ............................................. 56 20.4 Firm back muscles ...................................................... 57 20.5 Quadriceps (upper thigh) ............................................ 57 20.6 Calf muscles ............................................................... 57 19.1 Neck, shoulder and arm pain, headaches 10.1 Setting the TENS parameters ..................................... 45 10.2 Setting the EMS parameters....................................... 45 30 1. How will these instructions help you? Warning! This symbol warns you about possible damage to your health. NB! This symbol draws your attention to possible damage to your appliance. Note This symbol draws your attention to particularly useful information about using your appliance. The important parts of your appliance are marked with numbers. Using these part numbers, you can safely identify the displays and controls whose significance and use we explain in this manual. You will therefore find that we have put the part numbers in brackets at the appropriate points in these instructions. 2. Background information 2.1 What is pain? Acute pain (protective pain) is a natural warning system which draws our attention to the fact that something is wrong with our bodies. Acute pain helps us to recognise the early onset of disease and to treat it. Chronic pain is not a natural condition. It occurs as the result of a fault in the affected nerve cells and no longer functions as a warning. Chronic pain is persistent, recurrent pain that lasts for longer than 3 ­ 6 months. Chronic pain occurs irrespective of its original cause: the original cause either no longer exists or can no longer be remedied. 2.2 What is TENS? TENS, Transcutaneous (delivered via the skin) Electrical Nerve Stimulation, is a valuable method in the treatment of pain. TENS blocks the transmission of pain signals to the brain. The patient is no longer aware of the pain or is less aware of it. 2.3 What is EMS? EMS, Electrical Muscle Stimulation, is a method of physiotherapy that has been used for many years in preventive medicine and rehabilitation. 31 Normally an electrical signal from the brain causes a muscle to contract. EMS produces this electrical signal artificially: low frequency pulses stimulate the nerves that lie beneath the skin, and these in turn stimulate the underlying muscles. EMS at a low frequency of 1 - 10 Hz results in an intense contraction of the muscle and thus leads to the build-up of the muscle. EMS at a medium frequency of 20 - 50 Hz improves the blood supply to the muscle by producing quick, consecutive muscle contractions. 3. The Digital TENS The Digital TENS produces electrical pulses: you can adjust the intensity, rate (frequency) and amplitude of these pulses to suit your own particular treatment requirements. Self-adhesive electrodes are stuck onto the skin and conduct the electrical pulses into the nervous system in the area being treated. These stimulations are not painful. You will only feel a gentle prickling or vibration on the skin. The Digital TENS has two independently controllable output channels and offers you a choice of five modes of TENS operation and two modes of EMS operation. Particular advantages of the Digital TENS: Easy to use at home or away Freedom to move whilst using the appliance Always available No known side effects when used as intended. 4. Your safety is important to us Please read these instructions carefully before using your Digital TENS for the first time. They cover all you need to know in order to operate your Digital TENS safely and avoid damage. This instruction manual is an important part of your purchase. Keep it safe ­ until you either pass on your Digital TENS with these instructions to a new owner or finally dispose of the appliance. 4.1 For what range of use is the Digital TENS suitable? We recommend that you consult your doctor or physiotherapist before using the Digital TENS. Your doctor or therapist will help you decide on your course of treatment and to monitor its progress. 32 The Digital TENS is only intended for external use on human beings. The Digital TENS may only be used as described in this instruction manual. 4.2 For what range of use is the Digital TENS unsuitable? Danger of sparking and explosion! The Digital TENS does not have AP/APG protection. Do not place the Digital TENS near highly inflammable materials, highly inflammable gases or explosives. Electromagnetic radiation! The Digital TENS can interfere with electronic monitoring equipment such as ECG monitors and ECG alarms. Do not place the Digital TENS near machines of this type. 4.3 For what areas of application is the Digital TENS suitable? In TENS operating mode: The TENS operating mode is only suitable for the treatment of chronic pain which has been diagnosed as such without doubt. Treatment with the Digital TENS has no effect on non-specific pain such as non-specific headaches. In EMS operating mode: The EMS operating mode is only suitable for the following areas of application: The treatment of muscular atrophy (muscular dystrophy) caused by inactiveness, enforced rest, illness or degeneration Muscular re-education (building up the muscles) The prevention of post-operative venous thrombosis The treatment of muscular cramps Muscular training by sportsmen and ­women. 4.4 For what areas of application is the Digital TENS unsuitable? Treatments with the Digital TENS are of a purely symptomatic nature. They cannot bring about any healing. In TENS or EMS operating mode: Do not use the Digital TENS if the patient suffers from allergic skin reactions. Self-adhesive electrodes may lead to irritation of the skin. if the patient suffers from heart problems, in particular cardiac dysrhythmia. The stimulation current may lead to ventricular fibrillation and in the worst case scenario to cardiac arrest. 33 if the patient has a heart pacemaker, other electronic implants or metallic implants. The stimulation current may interfere with the function of the implant. if the patient suffers from convulsive disorders. In the worst case scenario the stimulation current may cause convulsive seizures. if the patient is pregnant. In the worst case scenario the stimulation current may cause premature contractions. during menstruation. In the worst case scenario the stimulation current may increase the amount of bleeding and cause or aggravate cramps. on areas of the skin in which the patient no longer has any sensation of pain. Self-adhesive electrodes may lead to irritation of the skin and burns. if the patient suffers from systemic diseases (i.e. those affecting the whole body) In EMS operating mode: Do not use the Digital TENS if the patient has a tendency to bleeding, e.g. after an acute injury or an acute fracture. The stimulation current may cause or increase bleeding. if the patient has recently undergone an operation and strong muscular contractions could adversely affect the healing process. on swollen or inflamed areas of the patient's body, e.g. over varicose veins or where there is phlebitis. over areas of the body which are affected by cancer. 4.5 Other points to consider Do not use the Digital TENS or its accessories if they are damaged. The stimulation current can cause pain and burning. Do not leave the Digital TENS within reach of children. Children may swallow small parts and choke on them. Do not use the Digital TENS when driving or operating machinery. The operation of the Digital TENS could distract you from your work and lead to an accident. Any inadvertent change in the set-up of the Digital TENS could frighten you by causing unpleasant skin reactions or sudden muscular contractions. Do not use the Digital TENS if a sudden fright could cause you to injure yourself in any way. Only use the Digital TENS with accessories that are recommended by ibp. See the section on Ordering accessories. 34 Fire hazard! Do not short-circuit the battery. Explosion hazard, fire hazard! Do not attempt to recharge a non-rechargeable battery. The battery may leak or explode and cause a fire. Danger of poisoning and choking! Children can swallow batteries. Keep the batteries away from children. 5. How to protect the Digital TENS The electronics of the Digital TENS are affected by humidity and moisture. Do not hold the Digital TENS under running water, do not dip it into water or other liquids and do not carry it when swim ...