What is the difference between TENS and IFC? - ProProfs Discuss
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What is the difference between TENS and IFC?

What is the difference between TENS and IFC?

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Asked by Deborah , Last updated: Nov 30, 2024

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5 Answers

Barry Mclean

Barry Mclean

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Barry Mclean
Barry Mclean, Sales Manager, MBA, Ewa

Answered Oct 08, 2020

The main difference between the use of IFC and Tens is the type of frequency current that is being used. When you say IFC, this means Interferential Current Therapy or IFC. There are two alternating current signals that are available.

You need to remember that IFC will be in charge of blocking the pain receptors that people may experience.

For example, when a person is experiencing pain, IFC will make sure that people will not experience the pain anymore. When you say TENS, what this will do is to address pain. This will modulate the low-frequency pain that people may be experiencing.

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Anika Nicole

Anika Nicole

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Anika Nicole
Anika Nicole, Wordsmith, PG In Journalism, New York

Answered May 29, 2020

To understand the differences between the two, it is important that you know what these acronyms stand for. When you say TENS, this means Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation while IFC stands for Inferential Current Therapy. These two types of therapy are usually given to those who are suffering from pain and would like to get some pain relief.

They can be considered as alternatives especially since there are some people who do not want to rely on taking painkillers all the time in order to get rid of the pain. Another reason why they are the choice of some people is they are not addictive at all. There are some medications that can make people addicted. This is something that they want to avoid.

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W.Willow

W.Willow

W.Willow
W.Willow

Answered May 29, 2020

These two are treatments that are used that can help get rid of pain without the need to use medications. IFC would make use of inferential electricity while TENS will make use of currents that will be able to travel through the skin. The main focus of the IFC is to help block the pain while TENS will be helpful in improving the electric reactions for the motor and sensory nerves.

The strength of the electricity that they would give out is also different from the IFC usually higher than TENS. Even with the higher electricity though, a lot of people think that the IFC is more comfortable as compared to TENS.

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F. Lopez

F. Lopez

F. Lopez
F. Lopez

Answered May 20, 2020

TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, and IFC stands for Inferential Current Therapy. Both are palliative actions that utilize electric currents for long term intractable pain post-operative and post-traumatic periods of acute pain.

IFC uses a two polar frequency circuit and four polar frequency circuits of different cycles each second that is placed on the site that will give you the subsequent frequency that is accepted by the specific frequency amplitude. It can block pain and stimulate tissues. On the other hand, TENS fuels the generation of a current which can flow through it leads to electrode reactions in the sensory and motor nerve fibers are triggered by the low voltage current.

It covers a complete range of applied currents which are used for nerve excitation. The unit is connected with the skin through the use of electrodes. While some will say this form of therapy works best, it is still a controversial topic in which treatment is better.

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Jessica Rhodes

Jessica Rhodes

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Jessica Rhodes
Jessica Rhodes, Economic advisor, Master of Economics (MEcon), Ohio

Answered May 19, 2020

TENS or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and IFC or Inferential Current Therapy are both medical procedures used in the treatment of long-term pain, and acute pain resulting from post-traumatic or post-operative periods, using electric current. Although both procedures are used for the same purpose, there are some differences between the two.

First, the method used in IFC is the application of inferential electrical stimulation and produces a result at the electrodes intersection point. In contrast, TENS makes use of electrodes that are placed on the skin to deliver small electrical impulses so as to stop the signal of pain from being sent to the spinal cord and brain.

The signal of pain is blocked on the sensory fibers and motor nerves when TENS is used, while IFC focuses more on stopping the signal of pain via peripheral nerve fibers from getting to the brain. Another difference is that TENS doesn't deliver up to the amount of electric current you will get if IFC is used.

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