Acupuncture-like Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Research Articles

A Review of Recent Clinical Studies of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) on Xerostomia - PubMed and Domestic Studies

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to summarize current clinical study trends and results regarding transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) treatment for xerostomia.Methods: Studies published from 2017 to 2022 were searched on domestic databases and PubMed. The included studies were analyzed according to the year, language, study design, diagnosis xerostomia method, and TENS treatment method.Results: Nine studies were included. There were three randomized controlled trials (RCTs), three case series, one case report, one case-control study, and one cross-sectional study. Conventional TENS was used in seven studies, and acupuncture-like TENS (ALTENS) was used in one study. The most common TENS attachment site was externally on the skin overlying the parotid gland region, and the setting of TENS was 50 Hz-250 μs the most. In all nine studies, TENS was effective for xerostomia as assessed by salivary flow rate or quality of life questionnaire. Additionally, no persistent adverse events were reported after TENS treatment.Conclusions: TENS treatment for xerostomia can be considered effective and safe, so it can be used in clinical practice.

Effect of acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on labor pain in nulliparous women: a randomized controlled trial

Effect of acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on labor pain in nulliparous women: a randomized controlled trial

Acupuncture-like versus conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in the management of active myofascial trigger points: A randomized controlled trial

PurposeMyofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is one of the most common causes of chronic musculoskeletal pain. The transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a non-expensive, safe, feasible modality, used recently for the treatment of MPS with promising but limited results. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of acupuncture-like TENS (AL-TENS) vs conventional TENS (C-TENS) in the treatment of active myofascial trigger points. MethodsThis randomized controlled trial study was carried out with 60 consecutive patients with active trapezius trigger points referred to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic. Participants randomly assigned to receive AL-TENS, C-TENS or sham TENS (S-TENS). The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Pressure Pain Thresholds (PPTs), and neck range of motion (ROM) were measured at baseline, after the first treatment sessions, after the final treatment session, and 3 months after the end of the last treatment session. Patients function was evaluated by Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) at baseline, after the final treatment sessions, and 3 months after the end of intervention. ResultsThe interaction effect of time and group was significantly different when evaluating VAS (df = 4.65, F = 2.50, p = 0.038) and DASH (df = 2.63, F = 7.25, p < 0.001) in favor of active groups, as well as neck total lateral bending in favor of AL-TENS group compared other two groups (df = 4.16, F = 5.23, p = 0.001). Both VAS and DASH improved significantly at all follow-ups in AL-TENS and C-TENS groups. Of note, significant immediate improvement in all outcomes was observed only with AL-TENS. ConclusionsAccording to the present study, both AL-TENS and C-TENS were superior to placebo in pain reduction and functional improvement. Although both TENS techniques have similar efficiency on pain reduction, functional and pain perception improvement, the AL-TENS was the superior approach when evaluating neck lateral bending ROM.

Supraspinal neural mechanisms of the analgesic effect produced by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.

Although the analgesic effects of conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and acupuncture-like TENS are evident, their respective neural mechanisms in humans remain controversial. To elucidate and compare the supraspinal neural mechanisms of the analgesic effects produced by conventional TENS (high frequency and low intensity) and acupuncture-like TENS (low frequency and high intensity), we employed a between-subject sham-controlled experimental design with conventional, acupuncture-like, and sham TENS in 60 healthy human volunteers. In addition to assessing the TENS-induced changes of subjective ratings of perceived pain, we examined the TENS associated brainstem activities (fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuations, fALFF) and their corresponding resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) with higher-order brain areas using functional magnetic resonance imaging. The analgesic effect of conventional TENS was only detected in the forearm that received TENS, coupled with decreased pons activity and RSFC between pons and contralateral primary somatosensory cortex. In contrast, acupuncture-like TENS produced a spatially diffuse analgesic effect, coupled with increased activities in both subnucleus reticularis dorsalis (SRD) and rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM), and decreased RSFC between SRD and medial frontal regions as well as between SRD and lingual gyrus. To sum up, our data demonstrated that conventional TENS and acupuncture-like TENS have different analgesic effects, which are mediated by different supraspinal neural mechanisms.

Effects of Acupressure and Acupuncture-Like Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Sleep Quality Among Pregnant Women

BackgroundDespite the adverse consequences of poor sleep during pregnancy, relatively few safe interventions exist for improving sleep among pregnant women. Nonpharmacological interventions are increasingly gaining acceptance. However, the effects of acupressure and acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (ACUTENS) have not been widely reported. ObjectivesThe purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of low-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, otherwise known as ACUTENS, and acupressure on sleep quality among pregnant women. MethodsPurposive sampling of 42 pregnant women with sleep disorders was conducted, and the participants were randomized into 3 groups, i.e., acupressure, ACUTENS, and usual care. interventions, which were carried out twice weekly for six weeks. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality index was used to determine the overall sleep quality. ResultsThe preintervention scores of sleep quality were 12.5 (3.75), 12.5 (4.0), and 13.0 (3.5) in the ACUTENS, acupressure, and usual care groups, respectively. The Kruskal–Wallis test did not show any significant difference in the preintervention sleep quality scores (H = 0.379, p = 0.827). Participants in the usual care group recorded the least improvement, with a score of 5.0 (2.25), the ACUTENS group recorded a score of 4.5 (3.0), and the greatest improvement was recorded in the acupressure group, with a score of 4.0 (2.2) after 6 weeks of intervention. The Kruskal–Wallis test did not show any significant difference in the postintervention sleep quality scores among the 3 groups (H = 0.666, p = 0.717). ConclusionThis study showed that ACUTENS and acupressure as an adjunct to usual care are not more effective than usual care alone in improving sleep quality among pregnant women.

The effect of two different types of electric current on experimental pain threshold in healthy individuals: A duble blind, randomized controlled trial

Objective: Physiotherapists often resort to electrophysical agents for pain management. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of acupuncture-like Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) on experimental pressure pain threshold (PPT) in healthy individuals. Method: Sixty one healthy participants (44 females, 17 males) aged 18-21 years were included in the study.The participants were divided into acupuncture-like TENS and NMES groups. The application was performed for 20 minutes from the right upper limb. The PPT changes of the participants were evaluated from the thenar part of both hands with an algometer before the current application, immediately after and 60 minutes after. Results: There was no difference in the PPT levels of the right and left extremities of the participants in both groups before the application (p>0.05). In both groups and intergroup comparisons, there was no difference in PPT levels measured from the right and left extremities of participants before the current application, immediately after and 60 minutes after the current application (p>0.05). Conclusions: In this study, it was concluded that acupuncture-like TENS and NMES had no effect on experimental PPT and therefore, the clinical use of currents should be questioned.

Different Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Modes in Relieving Chronic Pudendal Neuralgia in Females

Purpose: to evaluate and compare the effects of two different transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) modes (conventional and SLR acupuncture-like TENS) on the female pudendal neuralgia. Methods: Thirty female patients suffering from chronic pudendal neuralgia from out-clinic of the gynecological and obstetrical department, OM-EL MISRIEEN hospital, were participated in this study. Their ages ranged from 30 to 40 years old. They were assigned randomly into two equal groups; group (A) received the conventional TENS, group (B) received the SLR Acupuncture-likeTENS, in addition to the traditional physical therapy and medical care for both groups, duration of treatment was 20 minutes/session, every other day for 3 months. Measurement of the serum cortisol level (SCL) and the visual analogue scale (VAS) were recorded before and at the end of intervention. Results: Results showed that both TENS modes were effective in improving the pudendal neuralgia as manifested by significant decreased SCL and VAS (P<0.05) at pre and post treatment program. Conclusion: SLR acupuncture-like TENS more effective than the conventional TENS in improving the female pudendal neuralgia.

Two- Versus Four-Times Weekly Acupuncture-Like Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Treatment of Radiation-Induced Xerostomia: A Pilot Study

Background: Xerostomia occurs in the majority of patients undergoing chemoradiation therapy for head and neck cancer (HNC). Acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (ALTENS) treatment has been studied as an encouraging modality to improve salivary function and related symptoms. The purpose of this study was to compare ALTENS treatment by using a four-times weekly schedule for 6 weeks versus a twice-weekly schedule for 12 weeks with a validated xerostomia scale at 15 months from the start of ALTENS treatment. Materials and Methods: This single-center randomized study was conducted in 30 patients treated with radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy for HNC between 2014 and 2017, who had at least grade 1 or 2 symptomatic dry mouth (xerostomia) according to CTEP NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE version 4.0). These patients were randomly assigned to receive ALTENS four-times weekly for 6 weeks or two-times weekly for 12 weeks. The University of Michigan 15-item Xerostomia-related Quality of Life Scale (XeQoLS) was administered at 6, 9, 15, and 21 months from the start of ALTENS treatment. A random-effects generalized linear model was used to model the overall XeQoLS score at the 15-month endpoint; adjusted for a random time effect, a fixed treatment arm, and interaction of time and treatment. Comparison between arms was based on a 0.05 nominal significance level. Results: XeQoLS decreased for all patients (although not statistically for each arm) from a mean of 22 and 21 at baseline (in the four times per week and twice weekly arms) to 12 in both arms at 15 months, with no difference between arms (p = 0.68). There were no attributable grade 1-3 adverse events. Arms were balanced for age, gender, race, and baseline xerostomia. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that both ALTENS regimens are safe, well tolerated, and appear to be equally effective. We now routinely make ALTENS units available for home use.

Convergence of Acupoint and Electrical Stimulation Therapy for Blood Flow and Pain Threshold

This study examined how the application of silver spike point (SSP) and acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (A-TENS) on acupoints affects blood flow and pain threshold, using laser Doppler blood fluxes and the Commander algometer. Our study included 32 healthy men and women who were randomly divided into the SSP group (n=18) and the A-TENS group (n=14). The pain threshold and blood flow were measured at the Neiguan (PC6) of the Jueyin Pericardium Meridian of the hand. SSP was performed with a 2.8cm electrode at a fixed frequency of 3 Hz for 15 minutes. The change in blood flow and pain threshold after the intervention significantly differed between the two groups (p<0.05). We found that the application of SSP and A-TENS on an acupoint altered their blood flow and pressure pain threshold, with SSP resulting in significantly greater change than A-TENS. Based on these results, the convergence of acupoint and electrical stimulation therapy can be usefully applied as a method for various patients. Continued development of convergence interventions is necessary.

Evaluating the analgesic effect and advantage of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation combined with opioid drugs for moderate to severe cancer-related pain: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundTranscutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS), which is also known as acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), has been widely used in acute or chronic pain. However, previous research has not demonstrated that TEAS is effective for cancer-related pain. Opioid drugs are strongly recommended for treating cancer-related pain, but opioid-induced immunosuppression is still the most intractable drug-induced medical problem. Evaluating the efficacy and potential advantage of TEAS combined with opioid drugs in moderate and severe cancer-related pain in China is important because such studies are lacking.Methods/DesignThis trial is a multicenter, prospective randomized controlled clinical trial. In total, 160 patients who were enrolled from two hospitals in the Zhejiang Province (China) will be randomly allocated into two groups: a TEAS group and sham TEAS group without acupoint electrical stimulation. Both groups will receive a 21-day interval of chemotherapy and conventional cancer pain therapy. Fifteen treatment sessions will be performed over a three-week period. The primary outcomes will be measured by changes in the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scores and equivalent dosage of morphine at baseline, three weeks of treatment and one two-week follow-up. The secondary outcome measures include cellular immunity function, life quality assessment, opioids side effects assessment, and safety and compliance evaluation.DiscussionThis trial is expected to clarify whether TEAS is effective for cancer-related pain. These results demonstrate the advantage of TEAS combined with opioid drugs on improving immune function and decreasing opioid induced side effects.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-13003803. Registered on 27 August 2013.

Long-term outcomes of interventions for radiation-induced xerostomia: A review.

Xerostomia, or dry mouth, is a significant problem affecting quality of life in patients treated with radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. Strategies for reduction of xerostomia burden vary widely, with options including: sialagogue medications, saliva substitutes, acupuncture, vitamins, hyperbaric oxygen, submandibular gland transfer, and acupuncture or associated treatments. In this review, we sought to evaluate long-term outcomes of patients treated with various interventions for radiation-induced xerostomia. A literature search was performed using the terms “xerostomia” and “radiation” or “radiotherapy”; all prospective clinical trials were evaluated, and only studies that reported 1 year follow up were included. The search results yielded 2193 studies, 1977 of which were in English. Of those, 304 were clinical trials or clinical studies. After abstract review, 23 trials were included in the review evaluating the following treatment modalities: pilocarpine (three); cevimeline (one); amifostine (eleven); submandibular gland transfer (five); acupuncture like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (ALTENS) (one); hyperbaric oxygen (one); and acupuncture (one). Pilocarpine, cevimeline, and amifostine have been shown in some studies to improve xerostomia outcomes, at the cost of toxicity. ALTENS has similar efficacy with fewer side effects. Submandibular gland transfer is effective but requires an elective surgery, and thus may not always be appropriate or practical. The use of intensity-modulated radiation therapy, in addition to dose de-escalation in select patients, may result in fewer patients with late xerostomia, reducing the need for additional interventions.

When a White Horse is a Horse: Embracing the (Obvious?) Overlap Between Acupuncture and Neuromodulation.

When a White Horse is a Horse: Embracing the (Obvious?) Overlap Between Acupuncture and Neuromodulation.

1099P - Radiotherapy related xerostomia in head and neck oncology: A systematic review

Background: Radiotherapy in the head and neck region can lead to salivary gland hypofunction and as a result dry mouth ensues. We have undertaken this systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the effectiveness of available interventions for radiotherapy-induced xerostomia and hyposalivia. Methods: A systematic review and meta-synthesis techniques were adopted to identify, appraise and synthesize the relevant literature regarding the experience of nutritional symptoms of HNC patients conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. Several electronic databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Library databases were searched. Results: 1598 patients from Eighteen studies were included in the systematic review. Cholinergic agonists like Pilocarpine, cevimeline and bethanechol were tested in most studies. Other drugs tested include malic acid, physostigmine, specific monoclonal antibodies like Rituximab, fluoroquinolones, saliva substitutes/mouthcare systems, hyperthermic humidification, acupuncture, acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, low-level laser therapy and herbal medicine. A recent study evaluated the salivary parameters in 4 phases. Results of meta analysis suggests cholinergic agonists were the most effective to improve salivary flow, compared to placebo, although some aspects of the relevant effect size, duration of the benefit, and clinical meaningfulness remain unclear. Conclusions: Pilocarpine, bethanechol and cevimeline should represent the first line of therapy in head and neck cancer survivors with radiotherapy-induced xerostomia and hyposalivation. The use of other treatment modalities cannot be supported on the basis of current evidence. Legal entity responsible for the study: nil Funding: None Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Exploratory Factor Analysis of NRG Oncology's University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire—RTOG Modification

ContextThe 15-item University of Washington Quality of Life questionnaire–Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) modification (UW-QOL–RTOG modification) has been used in several trials of head and neck cancer conducted by NRG Oncology such as RTOG 9709, RTOG 9901, RTOG 0244, and RTOG 0537. ObjectivesThis study is an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to establish validity and reliability of the instrument subscales. MethodsEFA on the UW-QOL–RTOG modification was conducted using baseline data from NRG Oncology's RTOG 0537, a trial of acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in treating radiation-induced xerostomia. Cronbach α coefficient was calculated to measure reliability; correlation with the University of Michigan Xerostomia Related Quality of Life Scale was used to evaluate concurrent validity; and correlations between consecutive time points were used to assess test-retest reliability. ResultsThe 15-item EFA of the modified tool resulted in 11 items split into four factors: mucus, eating, pain, and activities. Cronbach α ranged from 0.71 to 0.93 for the factors and total score, consisting of all 11 items. There were strong correlations (ρ ≥ 0.60) between consecutive time points and between total score and the Xerostomia Related Quality of Life Scale total score (ρ > 0.65). ConclusionThe UW-QOL–RTOG modification is a valid tool that can be used to assess symptom burden of head and neck cancer patients receiving radiation therapy or those who have recently completed radiation. The modified tool has acceptable reliability, concurrent validity, and test-retest reliability in this patient population, as well as the advantage of having being shortened from 15 to 11 items.

Comparison of the Effects of Acupuncture and Acupuncture-Like Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Among Adult Nigerian Adult with Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Comparison of the Effects of Acupuncture and Acupuncture-Like Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Among Adult Nigerian Adult with Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Comparison of the effects of acaupuncture and acupuncture like TENS on osteoarthritis of the knee among adult Nigerians

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is a major cause of disability among adults with conservative therapies being among the preferred first line of treatment. Acupuncture and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) are considered as potentially useful treatment for OA; however, there is dearth of information on the acceptability and efficacy of acupuncture in Nigeria. The study was designed to compare the effects of acupuncture and acupuncture-like TENS (ACUTENS) among adult Nigerian with OA of the knee joints. Thirty patients with knee OA were randomized into two intervention groups (i.e., acupuncture and ACUTENS) and a control (soft-tissue manipulation [STM]) group. Patients in the acupuncture and ACUTENS group were also treated with STM as the control group. Pain intensity, functional mobility, and knee active range of movement (AROM) were measured at preintervention, postintervention, and 3 months postintervention. Patients who received acupuncture showed statistically better improvement in the form higher mean changes ± standard error of means in pain intensity score of 4.20 ± 0.01 than the ACUTENS group who recorded changes in pain intensity scores of 30 ± 0.30. The mean changes in the functional mobility scores of 10.60 ± 3.35 and 4.30 ± 1.12 were recorded for the patients in the acupuncture and ACUTENS group, respectively. In addition, the mean changes in the knee AROM for the patients in the acupuncture group was 15.5 ± 5.18 while patients who received ACUTENS recorded mean changes of 5.50 ± 1.38. Acupuncture and ACUTENS treatment produced significant reduction in pain intensity level postintervention and at follow-up assessments (P

Phase II Randomized Trial of Acupuncture-Like Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation to Prevent Radiation-Induced Xerostomia in Head and Neck Cancer Patients.

Current evidence indicates that acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (ALTENS) can provide sustained benefit for established radiation-induced xerostomia (RIX) symptoms. This is further being evaluated by comparing it with standard treatment (pilocarpine) in a randomized controlled trial. This report studies the potential effectiveness of xerostomia prevention using ALTENS delivered concomitantly with radiotherapy administered to head and neck cancer patients. Sixty patients were randomized to either the treatment group (n = 30) that received ALTENS daily with radiotherapy or the control group (n = 26) that had standard mouth care only. Stimulated and basal unstimulated whole saliva production (WSP) plus RIX symptoms visual analogue score (RIXVAS) were assessed at specific time points. Generalized linear models and generalized estimating equations were used for analysis. RIXVAS at 3 months follow-up after therapy completion was used as the primary study endpoint. The mean RIXVAS for the ALTENS intervention at 3 months was 39.8, which was not significantly different from the control arm value of 40.5. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups for their mean RIXVAS and WSP at all assessment time points. In conclusion, there was no significant difference in mean WSP and RIXVAS between the two groups, so ALTENS is not recommended as a prophylactic intervention.

Abstract P3-12-02: Lifestyle interventions combined with acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in managing vasomotor symptoms induced by breast cancer treatment: Results of a phase 2 randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background: Women with breast cancer can experience significant treatment induced vasomotor symptoms (TIVS). Non-hormonal strategies for TIVS (e.g. acupuncture, Venlafaxine) provide some relief but may be intolerable because of the invasive nature of the treatment and possible side effects. As such, women often prefer lifestyle strategies (LS) that can be self-administered. Acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (ALTENS) is a non-invasive needleless technique that uses specific electrical parameters to stimulate selected acupoints to achieve clinical response with minimal toxicity. ALTENS can be administered with minimal training. It is amenable to quality assurance and can allow for self treatment by women. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of ALTENS in addition to LS in relieving TIVS in women with breast cancer. Methods: Eligible subjects were postmenopausal women with Stages 0-3 breast cancer who had completed cancer treatment and were experiencing hot flashes for ≥ one month with a Hot Flash Score (HFS) ≥15 in one week prior to consent. Anti-estrogen therapy was permitted. Non-hormonal drug therapies were prohibited. Subjects were randomized to either LS (control) or LS with concurrent ALTENS (combined). LS consisted of standardized lifestyle strategies (e.g. environmental control, managing hot flash triggers) counseling delivered by a specially trained nurse practitioner at week 0 with reinforcing counseling at weeks 12 and 24. ALTENS was given twice weekly for 12 treatments over an 8-week period. The HFS, Hot Flash Related Daily Interference Scale and the Short Form version 2 health survey were administered at weeks 0, 12 and 24. Heart rate variability was measured at weeks 0 and 12. The primary study endpoint was the number of responders, defined as women who had &amp;gt; 50% reduction in their HFS between weeks 0 and 12. Results: 71 eligible subjects with a median age of 52 (range: 40-87) were randomized to combined arm (n=36) and control (n=35). At 12 weeks there were 11 (30.6%) responders in the combined arm versus 2 (5.7%) in the control (p=0.012).The results at 24 weeks were 14 versus 4, respectively (p=0.013). Arms were balanced for anti-estrogen use. Two subjects chose to discontinue ALTENS after experiencing symptoms improvement. There were no serious adverse events. Conclusion: ALTENS in combination with lifestyle strategies is a promising non-pharmacologic approach that showed improvement in managing treatment induced vasomotor symptoms in women with breast cancer. Our trial results support its evaluation in phase 3 studies. Citation Format: Margaret Forbes, Raimond Wong, Stephen M Sagar, Jim A Julian, Mark N Levine, Joseph Hayward. Lifestyle interventions combined with acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in managing vasomotor symptoms induced by breast cancer treatment: Results of a phase 2 randomized controlled trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-12-02.

Effects of conventional and acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on osteoarthritis of the knee

Background: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is one of the most widely used physical modalities for the management of osteoarthritis (OA) knee and various stimulation parameters have been adopted with varying stimulation frequencies. However, the optimal stimulation frequency of TENS in the management of OA knee pain appeared not to have been well studied. Aim: The purpose of this study is to find out, which among conventional TENS (ConTENS) and acupuncture-like TENS (AcuTENS) is more effective for treating knee OA. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four patients with knee OA were randomly allocated to three groups. ConTENS AcuTENS and Placebo TENS (PlaTENS). Participants in the ConTENS and AcuTENS group received TENS treatment with current intensity and frequency based on their group allocation at selected acupuncture points (acupoints) for knee pain; the Pla-TENS participants received intervention, which was identical to the ConTENS treatment group, but the circuit was disconnected. Participants in the three groups were also treated with soft tissue manipulation around the knee joint. Each group received treatment 3 times a week for 3 weeks during the study. Outcome measures were pain intensity measured with numeric pain rating scale (NPRS), goniometric assessment of knee active range of motion and knee functional mobility measured with timed up and go test. Data were collected prior to intervention, at weekly basis during intervention and at 4 weeks follow-up assessment. Results: The ConTENS and AcuTENS reported lower pain intensity scores and increase in the knee active range of flexion than the PlaTENS group at the end of 3 weeks of treatment and at follow-up assessments. However, only the AcuTENS group recorded statistically significant lower pain intensity and improvement in knee flexion than other groups (P < 0.005). Conclusion: AcuTENS treatment was more effective than ConTENS in pain relief and increasing active range of knee flexion for patients with OA of the knee

Effectiveness of Acupuncture and Acupuncture-like Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (ACUTENS) in treating primary dysmenorrhea- A randomised controlled trial (RCT)

Effectiveness of Acupuncture and Acupuncture-like Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (ACUTENS) in treating primary dysmenorrhea- A randomised controlled trial (RCT)