Going Wide & Deep: Pain Relief & the RS-4i® Plus
There’s no shortage of electrotherapy options out there – and there are plenty of claims about the efficacy of these devices, too. And while a device manufacturer may claim to be “high frequency,” it’s a label that doesn’t mean much without scientific context. What’s important is the waveform, as well as its ability to overcome skin resistance and penetrate to where the actual pain resides.
Let’s look at the science behind the RS-4i Plus to get a better sense of how it treats pain – and what makes it different.
How Premodulated Interferential Therapy Goes Wider
An electrotherapy device that offers traditional Interferential therapy (INF) uses two slightly different high-frequency signals (for example, 5000 Hz and 5100 Hz) that intersect within the body to create an area of interference – a “sweet spot” in the treatment area where the therapeutic benefit is most pronounced. Now the reason for this enhanced therapeutic benefit is that the intersection of signals actually results in a new frequency, called the beat frequency, which has the desired effect of recruiting the maximum number of A-beta nerve fibers for treatment. (image A)
Taking this a step further, while traditional INF crosses two frequencies within the body, a more sophisticated electrotherapy unit is able to cross the signals within the device itself. This is called premodulation – and the RS-4i Plus is the only electrotherapy device to offer it. The primary benefit of using a premodulated Interferential signal is that this allows the device to treat pain over a larger area, which is possible because the sweet spot isn’t limited solely to the location where the two signals intersect. Rather, this area of therapeutic interference spans the entire distance between the electrodes. (image B)
High Frequency: How 5,000 Hz Goes Deeper
While premodulation is what enables the RS-4i Plus to treat a larger area of the body, it’s the device’s high frequency signal (around 5,000 Hz – much higher than a standard TENS device) that allows it to go deeper.
How does high frequency go deeper? A simple kitchen analogy can help. Let’s say you’re straining flour through a sifter. The slower you shake the sifter, the less flour passes through the mesh in a given amount of time. Conversely, the more vigorously you shake it, the more flour passes through. The same can be said for an Interferential signal: The more often, or frequently, you introduce a signal to the body, the deeper it can penetrate tissue to treat pain.
To recap: In addition to affecting a broader treatment area, the RS-4i Plus can also go deeper to treat pain thoroughly and comprehensively in three dimensions.
Longer-Lasting Relief: Beyond the Gate Control Theory of Pain
The gate control theory of pain is a widely accepted principle that explains how the RS-4i Plus can treat pain over the short term. According to the theory, hyperstimulating A-beta nerve fibers activates inhibitory neurons that mitigate pain signals as they’re sent up the ascending pathway to the brain. Once engaged, these inhibitory neurons close the so-called “pain gate” and provide temporary pain relief. Once stimulation stops, this pain gate should theoretically open once again – and allow pain to resume.
However, many patients who use the RS-4i Plus don’t just experience relief while using the device. They get pain relief that lasts from four to eight hours after a treatment – an outcome that’s not supported by the gate control theory. Therefore, it’s thought that treatment with the RS-4i Plus engages the endogenous opiate system. This system causes the body to release fast-acting, shorter-lasting enkephalins that can lessen pain. If stimulation is applied long enough, it can cause the body to release endorphins for slower-acting, longer-lasting relief.
It’s this combination of premodulated Interferential signals, high frequency and longer-lasting relief that show the RS-4i Plus is not the TENS you think you know.
Take the Next Step
If you’re a healthcare provider interested in discovering how the RS-4i Plus may work for your patients, complete the form below and check the box to receive a virtual product demo. Then judge for yourself how the powerful combination of premodulated Interferential therapy and high frequency signals can work for your patients.
Related Resources
Blog: Why a VA Pain Specialist Recommends the RS-4i Plus
Blog: How to Compare TENS Units by Price
This blog provides general information and discussion about medicine, health and related subjects. The words and other content provided in this blog, and in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. If the reader or any other person has a medical concern, he or she should consult with an appropriately-licensed physician or other healthcare professional.