Physical Therapy Products recently spoke with Geof Brown, senior marketing communications manager at Empi, St Paul, Minn, about TENS in pain management.

Tell us about the special features of the Select™ pain management system.

The Select™ Pain Control system is a nonsystemic, noninvasive method for treating chronic, acute, arthritis, and postoperative pain using TENS technology. It provides pain relief in two ways: by reducing the pain signals that reach the brain (gate theory) and by stimulating the body to produce endorphins, naturally occurring pain relievers (endorphin theory).

What patient and health care provider needs were considered in the creation and design of the Select?

The Select provides PTs a tool that reduces patients' pain so the therapy regimens PTs recommend can be more effective. Patients look for options that are nonpharmacological and nonsurgical. The Select Pain Control system provides a means of managing pain without surgery or drugs. Ease of use is a critical component of the product's design—both PTs and patients need a device that's easy to use right out of the box. The five program preset buttons offer an intuitive interface that allows patients to begin receiving pain relief as soon as possible.

What are two to three main questions that PTs have about the use of the Select (or TENS in general)?

PTs have questions about how the Select can be used in conjunction with physical therapy and about how the device works. Many PTs have told us they use the device as an adjunct to active therapies—allowing patients to manage their pain while engaging in active, hands-on modalities to restore function.

How has the use of TENS evolved in pain management?

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We see a growing acceptance of TENS as an important part of the pain management toolbox. The risks and side effects associated with many pharmaceutical products mean that there's a place for a nonaddictive, nonsystemic therapy like TENS and the Select Pain Management device.

What future trends in patient management technology do you foresee?

We have some exciting products in development that should be coming onto the market this summer. I can't go into detail at this time, but we think patients and PTs are going to see a lot of value in what we're bringing to the market.