During long-term TENS use, sensory receptors may accommodate to the continuous current. Which modulation strategy prevents this accommodation?

Prepare for the Non-Systems NPTE Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Achieve your exam success!

Multiple Choice

During long-term TENS use, sensory receptors may accommodate to the continuous current. Which modulation strategy prevents this accommodation?

Explanation:
Receptors adapt to a continuous electrical stimulus, so the sensation and the pain-relieving effect can fade with long-term TENS use. Switching to burst-mode modulation introduces brief on/off periods, giving receptors time to reset and preserving the intermittent input needed to sustain gate-control analgesia. This intermittent stimulation prevents sensory accommodation better than simply increasing current, stopping use, or changing electrode size, which don’t address the adaptation mechanism.

Receptors adapt to a continuous electrical stimulus, so the sensation and the pain-relieving effect can fade with long-term TENS use. Switching to burst-mode modulation introduces brief on/off periods, giving receptors time to reset and preserving the intermittent input needed to sustain gate-control analgesia. This intermittent stimulation prevents sensory accommodation better than simply increasing current, stopping use, or changing electrode size, which don’t address the adaptation mechanism.

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