Brief-intense TENS is characterized by stimulating C fibers and producing burning, needling sensation with twitch and tetanic contractions; beat frequency varies and intensity is higher than sensory TENS. Which statement is true?

Brief-intense TENS is characterized by stimulating C fibers and producing burning, needling sensation with twitch and tetanic contractions; beat frequency varies and intensity is higher than sensory TENS. Which statement is true?

• A. It stimulates C fibers with a burning sensation and can cause muscle contractions.
• B. It targets motor nerves with low intensity.
• C. It uses sensory-mode stimulation only.
• D. It uses no muscle contraction.

Answer: (A)

Brief-intense TENS uses high-amplitude, short-duration pulses that exceed the sensory threshold. This pattern preferentially activates small-diameter fibers, including C fibers, which produces burning or needle-like sensations. Because the intensity is high, it can recruit motor pathways and cause reflex muscle twitches or even tetanic contractions. The beat frequency can vary to modulate the sensation and analgesic effect. So the statement that it stimulates C fibers with a burning sensation and can cause muscle contractions best captures how brief-intense TENS works. It isn’t low-intensity motor-targeting, it isn’t limited to sensory-mode stimulation, and it isn’t free of muscle contraction.

Brief-intense TENS uses high-amplitude, short-duration pulses that exceed the sensory threshold. This pattern preferentially activates small-diameter fibers, including C fibers, which produces burning or needle-like sensations. Because the intensity is high, it can recruit motor pathways and cause reflex muscle twitches or even tetanic contractions. The beat frequency can vary to modulate the sensation and analgesic effect.

So the statement that it stimulates C fibers with a burning sensation and can cause muscle contractions best captures how brief-intense TENS works. It isn’t low-intensity motor-targeting, it isn’t limited to sensory-mode stimulation, and it isn’t free of muscle contraction.