Dynamic electroneurostimulation in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

Transcutaneous electroneurostimulation is an effective method of chronic pain relief. Dynamic electrical neurostimulation is a type of transcutaneous electroneurostimulation based on the use of weak (200–400 mkA) low frequency (10–200 Hz) pulse currents. A feature of this type of physiotherapy is the pulse shape, which changes following the change of the total electrical resistance of underelectrode skin area, which enables prolonged use without “addiction”. A multicenter randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study with 132 patients was conducted. Dynamic electrical neurostimulation led to a rapid decrease in the intensity of pain in the knee joint by an average of 5–8 mm on a visual-analogue scale immediately after the end of the procedure in the absence of pain dynamics of the procedure performed by the placebo. After completing the course of treatment from 10 procedures during the month of follow-up, the intensity of pain according to visual-analogue scale in patients of the dynamic electrical neurostimulation group was lower than in placebo. The decrease in pain intensity was also accompanied by a decrease in the time of the “Get up and go” test and an improvement in the Leken index. The statistically significant difference between the groups in the time of the “Stand up and go” test appeared at the end of the course of therapy and persisted for a month after the end of the course of therapy. Dynamic electrical neurostimulation is an effective and safe method for reducing pain and improving the function of the knee joint in patients with osteoarthritis.