ABSTRACT
Nonpharmacological therapies can be used in the treatment of acute pain and may be beneficial for some patients in some settings. However, when used alone, these strategies will usually not be effective for the treatment of moderate-to-severe acute pain. Psychological therapies aim to alter the psychological processes that may contribute to pain. They include provision of information, stress, and tension reduction, attentional techniques, and cognitive behavioral interventions. Relaxation strategies teach patients various ways to reduce their feelings of stress and tension. In the acute pain setting, some studies have suggested some benefit, however good-quality evidence is lacking. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is simple, safe, noninvasive, and free from systemic side effects, and allows patients some control over their own therapy. The battery-powered TENS unit generates a small electric current which is transmitted to electrodes placed on the skin.
