The Endorphinic programs are also known as AL TENS (Acupuncture-Like TENS) or electro-acupuncture.

The principle behind this type of stimulation is to stimulate the pain discriminative afferent nerve fibers (Aδ fibers). The stimulation of these fibers with low frequencies (between 1 and 5 Hz) leads to an increase in production of analgesic substances, called endorphins (and enkephalins), mainly secreted by the hypothalamus. These endorphins are responsible for a rise in the pain perception threshold, resulting in a general antalgic effect.

The second localized effect of Endorphinic programs is that this stimulation simultaneously imposes excitation of efferent fibers (alpha motoneurons) and thereby provokes twitching mechanical muscular responses. These muscular twitches are locally responsible for a significant increase in blood flow.

• General effect: increase in production of endorphins by stimulation of Aδ fibers with a frequency of 5 Hz;
• Local effect: increase in blood flow by stimulation of motoneurons with a frequency of 5 Hz.

The main indications of Endorphinic programs are chronic muscular contractures that are particularly frequent during episodes of rachialgia and radiculalgia. The increase in tension in contractured muscle fibers and the resulting crushing of the capillary network lead to a reduction in blood flow and a progressive accumulation of acid metabolites and free radicals. This muscular "acidosis" is directly responsible for pain that will maintain and reinforce contracture intensity.

Besides the general effect of increase in endorphins, Endorphinic programs are used to obtain a local effect. The five muscular twitches per second induced by stimulation produce significant hyperhemia, which drains the acid metabolites and the free radicals that have accumulated in chronically contractured muscular areas. If treatment is maintained for at least ten sessions, repetition of local hyperhemia episodes redevelops the atrophied capillary network caused by chronic contracture.

Therefore Endorphinic programs can effectively treat chronic muscular pain by attacking the cause of the problem.

The impulses are adapted to excite discriminative pain fibers (Aδ fibers).

Low stimulation frequencies (1 to 5 Hz) allow an increase in endorphin production.

To maximize the benefit of the second local effect of Endorphinic programs, i.e. the increase in blood flow, a 5 Hz stimulation frequency is used (see also "Vascular programs in general").