Abstract
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There are a variety of ways to apply the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) without an established way that provides better results in the treatment of nonspecific low back pain. The objective of this study was to evaluate which application of TENS has a better effect on the immediate reduction of the intensity of spontaneous and provoked pain in college students with nonspecific low back pain. METHODS: Quantitative, randomized and cross-sectional study. Twenty young individuals were divided into four groups and received a different intervention per week, totaling four weeks. The groups were Conventional TENS with the frequency of 100Hz, a pulse duration of 200µs; TENS with frequency and intensity variation with frequency variation and automatic pulse duration, TENS Burst with frequency modulated at 2Hz, pulse duration of 250µs; and placebo in which the subjects underwent a pacing protocol with no tingling sensation or muscle contraction. All sessions had a total application time of 20 minutes. They were evaluated for spontaneous pain through the application of the visual analog scale (VAS), and pain provoked by the algometer and cold pain through the application of solid ice directly to the skin, and VAS for the intensity of cold pain, all performed before and after each application of the electrotherapy. RESULTS: Only the visual analog scale of spontaneous pain showed significant results (p<0.05) when compared intragroups, in the three applied currents. CONCLUSION: The three forms used in the present study were able to reduce spontaneous pain after the intervention by electrostimulation.
Highlights
Low back pain is defined as pain or discomfort, located in the dorsal area between the last ribs and the gluteal folds, and may or may not present referred pain in the lower limbs
When applied at low frequencies, such as the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) burst therapy characterized by strong stimuli, it depolarizes the fast pain (Aδ) and slow pain (C) fibers, which through the activation of pain modulating mechanisms located in the region of puns and bulb can produce descending analgesia
Eight male and 12 female volunteers participated in the study, aged from 18 to 27 years old, weight 70.25±14.97kg, height 1.68±0.07m, and body mass index (BMI) of 24.53±4.58, who presented nonspecific low back pain (LBP) for at least three months, and were included only those who were not performing any type of treatment
Summary
Low back pain is defined as pain or discomfort, located in the dorsal area between the last ribs and the gluteal folds, and may or may not present referred pain in the lower limbs. When applied at low frequencies, such as the TENS burst therapy characterized by strong stimuli, it depolarizes the fast pain (Aδ) and slow pain (C) fibers, which through the activation of pain modulating mechanisms located in the region of puns and bulb can produce descending analgesia Both applications are effective in reducing pain through the release of endogenous opioids9.10. The objective of the present study was to evaluate which kind of application of TENS has a better effect on the immediate reduction of the intensity of spontaneous and provoked pain, in college students with nonspecific LBP. The objective of this study was to evaluate which application of TENS has a better effect on the immediate reduction of the intensity of spontaneous and provoked pain in college students with nonspecific low back pain. CONCLUSION: The three forms used in the present study were able to reduce spontaneous pain after the intervention by electrostimulation
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