---
title: "What Is Pulse width? TENS and Pain Glossary | Analgesic Healthcare"
description: "Pulse width, also called pulse duration, is the time each electrical pulse lasts. It is one of the settings a clinician or device instructions may adjust."
url: https://analgesic.multisites.ai/glossary/pulse-width
publisher: Analgesic Healthcare
phone: +1-800-749-1188
contact: https://analgesic.multisites.ai/contact
---

Therapy

# Pulse width

Pulse width, also called pulse duration, is the time each electrical pulse lasts. It is one of the settings a clinician or device instructions may adjust.

A 2017 critical review in Physiotherapy Canada defines pulse duration as the time from when the current leaves the zero line until it returns to baseline. The review notes that people commonly, though incorrectly, call it pulse width. The Cleveland Clinic says you can adjust the intensity, frequency and duration of the pulses on a TENS unit, and that the goal is to adjust the settings until the impulses feel strong but comfortable. This site does not give pulse width numbers. Follow your clinician's and your device's instructions. See also [pulse frequency](https://analgesic.multisites.ai/glossary/pulse-frequency) and [TENS unit settings explained](https://analgesic.multisites.ai/guides/tens-unit-settings-explained).

## Related terms

-   [Pulse frequency](https://analgesic.multisites.ai/glossary/pulse-frequency)
-   [Stimulation intensity](https://analgesic.multisites.ai/glossary/stimulation-intensity)
-   [TENS unit](https://analgesic.multisites.ai/glossary/tens-unit)
-   [NMES](https://analgesic.multisites.ai/glossary/nmes)

## Sources

1.  [Physiotherapy Canada (2017), PMC: Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation for Treatment of Muscle Impairment](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5683854/)
2.  [Cleveland Clinic: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/15840-transcutaneous-electrical-nerve-stimulation-tens)

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