Effects Of Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation Research Articles

Immediate analgesic effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and interferential current (IFC) on chronic low back pain: Randomised placebo-controlled trial

ObjectiveTo compare the immediate analgesic effect of transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TENS) and interferential current (IFC), with different combinations of parameters, in individuals with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Methodology280 individuals with CLBP were included in the study, both genders, randomized in 8 groups: GI2KHz/100Hz, GI2KHz/2Hz, GI4KHz/100Hz, GI4KHz/2Hz, placebo interferential group (GIP), GT100Hz, GT2Hz, and placebo TENS group (GTP). All individuals underwent a single application of TENS or IFC for 30min. The assessments were carried out prior to the intervention, as well as immediately after, with the following outcomes: pain intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale-NPRS), qualitative pain characteristics (McGill Pain Questionnaire-MPQ), and pressure pain threshold (PPT) by pressure algometry (PA) in 4 points of the low back region. ResultsIn the intergroup comparison of NPRS, all intervention groups showed greater pain reduction compared to GTP (p < 0.05). In the total MPQ score, the groups that obtained significant results (p < 0.05) when compared to GTP were GT100Hz and GT2Hz, while the groups GT100Hz and GI4KHz/100Hz were significant when compared to GIP. In the PA, GI4KHz/100Hz showed an increase in the PPT in all points compared to GTP and GI2KHz/100Hz. ConclusionBoth TENS and IFC presented immediate analgesic effect in CLBP, with emphasis on the interferential current of 4 KHz modulated at 100Hz.

Análise dos efeitos imediatos entre a Manipulação Quiroprática e TENS em indivíduos com cervicalgia: ensaio clínico randomizado

Objetivo: Analisar os efeitos imediatos da estimulação transcutânea de nervos (TENS) e manipulação quiroprática associados ou não a indivíduos com cervicalgia crônica. Métodos: 40 voluntários foram randomizados em quatro grupos que receberam uma única intervenção: G1: manipulação quiroprática; G2: Controle; G3: TENS e G4: TENS + manipulação quiroprática. As variáveis analisadas foram: Escala Visual Analógica, amplitude de movimento (ADM), e Índice de Incapacidade Pescoço (NDI). Resultados: Houve uma redução significativa da dor no G1 em comparação ao G2 (p &lt;0,0001). Nos movimentos de flexão e inclinação lateral direita, houve um aumento significativo (p &lt;0,05) nos grupos 1 e 4 em relação aos grupos 2 e 3. Nos itens do NDI: levantamento de peso, dor de cabeça, qualidade de sono e lazer, grupos 1 e 4 apresentaram melhora significativa em relação ao G2. Conclusão: O tratamento quiroprático com e sem TENS foi eficaz no aumento dos itens de ADM e NDI. A combinação de terapias não resultou em ganhos no manejo da cervicalgia comparados aos tratamentos unimodais.Número principal de identificação: RBR-6c65dw - Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos (ReBEC).

Evaluation of the effectiveness of transcutaneous nerve stimulation during labor in breech presentation: a case series

Objective: To analyze the effectiveness of pain relief with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) dispositive during labor in breech vaginal delivery and also to describe its tolerance and satisfaction.Design: A randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial was conducted.Setting: Labor room of Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular-Materno Infantil (Spain).Participants: Ten women who met the inclusion criteria of the clinical trial and also had a fetus breech presentation were randomly assigned to three groups.Interventions: A portable TENS, Cefar Rehab 2pro®, unit was used to apply the experimental intervention, with different doses in the three groups in women during labor. The device intensity (amplitude) was individually adjusted to each participant’s maximum sensory level. The pain was evaluated with visual analog scale (VAS). COMFORTS scale was used to measure women’s satisfaction.Results: A significant association of VAS was detected depending on the type of TENS over time. Active TENS2 was the only group that obtained an improvement with clinically significant results. In connection with women satisfaction, active TENS2 group was also the group that presented higher values.Conclusions: We can recommend the use of TENS dispositive to relieve pain during labor, also in those women with breech presentation.

Effects of Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation on the Autonomic Balance of Cardiac Transplant Recipients

Introduction Patients submitted to cardiac transplant surgery present an increase in resting heart rate. This fact is related to the reduction of direct autonomic control over the organ that, when implanted, is denervated, with reduced heart rate variability (HRV). Electrical stimulation in PC5 and PC6 acupuncture points has been described as possible complementary therapy capable of increasing heart rate variability in healthy individuals with cardiovascular diseases. Objective The aim of this study was to analyze the acute effect of transcutaneous electrostimulation in acupuncture points (TEAS) at points PC5 and PC6 on the autonomic balance in cardiac transplant recipients and to analyze the risks that the procedure offers. Methods This pilot study is an uncontrolled clinical trial. Cardiac transplant patients older than 18 years were recruited on outpatient follow-up at a cardiology hospital. The experiment started with the monitoring through the heart rate monitor that recorded the RR intervals. The patient remained lying down for 20 min for accommodation, 40 min for TEAS application with Jianshi (PC5) and Neiguan (PC6) electrodes in forearm region and 20 min for recovery. The indices in the time and frequency domains were considered for study. It was observed if there was an adverse effect during the protocol and in the subsequent 48 hours through telephone contact, such as dizziness, nausea, vomiting, hemodynamic instability. Results and Discussion SDNN increased (P < 0.05) during TEAS and recovery. The very low frequency (VLF), low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) indices were not altered by TEAS. However, the simpatovagal index increased during TEAS in relation to the accommodation period (P < 0.001). Both the diastolic pressure variation and the mean arterial pressure were higher (P < 0.01) in the recovery period when compared to the accommodation. There was also a moderate correlation (r = 0.52, P < 0.05) between the sympathovagal index and the effect of TEAS on heart rate. There was also a correlation between the time after surgery and the effect of TEAS on the variation of sistolic bloop pressue (r = 0.51, P = 0.016) and double product (r = 0.47, P < 0.05). No adverse effects were identified during the experimental protocol or in the 48 hours following the protocol. Conclusion The results suggest that TEAS modulates the autonomic balance of cardiac transplant patients submitted to TEAS and has been shown to be a safe practice for these patients. Keywords: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation; Acupuncture points; Autonomic nervous system; Heart transplantation.

Comparative study between manual therapy and TENS Burst in patients with tension-type cephalalgia

Introduction Cephalgia or cephalalgia is one of the most common symptoms in the general population. Objective To compare the efficacy of physical therapy modalities, through manual therapy and the effect of Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for tension-type cephalalgia. Materials and methods The study was compounded by 60 subjects, but only 40 of them completed it, due to the exclusion criteria. These were divided into control group and intervention group. The control group received treatment — manual therapy. The intervention group received TENS Burst. Patients underwent ten sessions of treatment, made at every two days on a week, lasting 30 minutes each session. Results The characteristics related to lifestyle, postural issues and range of motion are responsible for the main causes of tension-type cephalalgia. Discussion treatments showed effective results in all cases in relation to pain intensity, but the use of manual therapy techniques give the patient a better quality of life compared to the use of TENS. Final considerations The treatment of this condition deserves analysis and studies; however, there are only a few studying physical therapy techniques, especially regarding to the use of TENS.

BOLD fMRI deactivation of limbic and temporal brain structures and mood enhancing effect by transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation

Direct vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has proved to be an effective treatment for seizure disorder and major depression. However, since this invasive technique implies surgery, with its side-effects and relatively high financial costs, a non-invasive method to stimulate vagal afferences would be a great step forward. We studied effects of non-invasive electrical stimulation of the nerves in the left outer auditory canal in healthy subjects (n = 22), aiming to activate vagal afferences transcutaneously (t-VNS). Short-term changes in brain activation and subjective well-being induced by t-VNS were investigated by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and psychometric assessment using the Adjective Mood Scale (AMS), a self-rating scale for current subjective feeling. Stimulation of the ear lobe served as a sham control. fMRI showed that robust t-VNS induced BOLD-signal decreases in limbic brain areas, including the amygdala, hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus and the middle and superior temporal gyrus. Increased activation was seen in the insula, precentral gyrus and the thalamus. Psychometric assessment revealed significant improvement of well-being after t-VNS. Ear lobe stimulation as a sham control intervention did not show similar effects in either fMRI or psychometric assessment. No significant effects on heart rate, blood pressure or peripheral microcirculation could be detected during the stimulation procedure. Our study shows the feasibility and beneficial effects of transcutaneous nerve stimulation in the left auditory canal of healthy subjects. Brain activation patterns clearly share features with changes observed during invasive vagus nerve stimulation.

Effect of transcutaneous nerve stimulation on microcirculation in intact skin and blister wounds in healthy volunteers.

Healthy non-smoking volunteers participated in two experimental studies in which the circulatory changes induced by transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TENS) were quantified by two different methods. In experimental series 1 (intact skin), nine volunteers were given TENS on the left lower leg for 60 minutes on three occasions at different frequencies each time (2 Hz, 100 Hz, and sham). Changes in blood flow were assessed by laser Doppler imaging technique every five minutes. The mean blood flow increased by 40% during low frequency TENS and by 12% during high frequency TENS. There was no change in mean blood flow during sham stimulation. In experimental series 2 (blister wound), the circulatory changes induced by TENS were studied by intravital video microscopy and computerised image analysis in standard blister wounds on the lower leg. The microcirculatory blood flow, measured as red blood cell velocity (RBC-V) in 5-14 individual capillaries in each wound, was assessed before and during 45 minutes of TENS (2 Hz and 100 Hz). Mean RBC-V increased by 23% during low frequency TENS (n = 6) and by 17% during high frequency TENS (n = 8). The results show that: laser Doppler imaging and intravital video microscopy techniques can be used to study events at the microcirculatory level; the blister wound is an interesting new standard wound for use in clinical studies; and TENS stimulates the peripheral circulation.

The effects of transcutaneous nerve stimulation on pruritus in dermatological patients

Twenty-four patients with a number of dermatological diagnoses, primarily psoriasis and eczema, were studied to assess the effect of transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TENS) on pruritus. There were beneficial effects from TENS in dermatology patients suffering from pruritus, and further studies are warranted on the effect of TENS in pruritus.

Transcutaneous nerve stimulation in a group of patients with rheumatic disease involving the temporomandibular joint

The effect of transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TNS) was evaluated and compared with placebo TNS in 19 patients (17 women, mean age 33 years) with orofacial functional pain and rheumatic disease involving the temporomandibular joint. In two double-blind noncrossover experiments, high frequency TNS (100 Hz) and low frequency TNS (2 Hz) were evaluated by comparison of the patients' functional and rest pain, muscle and joint tenderness, and jaw function. A significant treatment effect was obtained for all treatment methods regarding functional and rest pain and muscle and joint tenderness. None of the parameters except functional pain, which improved significantly more after high frequency TNS than placebo TNS, revealed any differences between the methods. Jaw function, however, revealed a few differences between high frequency TNS and placebo TNS.

Effect of Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation on Esophageal Motility in Patients with Achalasia and Scleroderma

It has been suggested that low-frequency transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) alleviates the dysphagia produced by achalasia and scleroderma of the esophagus. The present study was conducted to elucidate whether TENS treatment improves dysphagia because of changes it induces on esophageal motility. We studied nine achalasia patients before forceful dilatation of the cardias, nine achalasia patients after dilatation, and nine patients with scleroderma. High-frequency TENS was applied to the hand for 30 min while esophageal motility was monitored by manometry. In none of the groups did TENS produce any change in the basal tone of the lower esophageal sphincter, lower esophageal sphincter relaxation, or esophageal body wave amplitude. Low-frequency TENS, used in another seven untreated achalasia patients, also did not improve esophageal motility. Our data indicate that high- or low-frequency TENS does not induce detectable changes in esophageal motility in patients with achalasia or scleroderma.

A Comparison of Pulmonary Function Tests for Postthoracotomy Pain Using Cryoanalgesia and Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation

The beneficial effects of transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TNS) and cryoanalgesia for postthoracotomy pain were compared against each other and against a control group through pulmonary function testing in the immediate and delayed postoperative period. Patients receiving cryoanalgesia did not perform well in the first 24 hours after operation. However, by the fifth postoperative day, they did as well as or even better than the TNS patients. Both cryoanalgesia and TNS were significantly effective in the management of postoperative pain as compared with controls.

Effect of transcutaneous nerve stimulation on sensory nerve conduction velocity: a pilot project

Transcutaneous nerve stimulation has become a popular and widely accepted method for controlling patients' pain. Although it is now frequently used in physical therapy departments, the physiological mechanism whereby it brings about its results is poorly understood. It was hypothesised that the application of TNS to naive normally healthy (n= 12) students would produce a reduction in the sensory nerve conduction velocity of the median nerve. This proved to be so (p =. 003), but unexpectedly one subject reported a feeling of coolness in the exposed hand. Subsequent analysis of cutaneous skin temperature showed a statistically significant reduction (p <. 001). Correlation coefficients showed higher correlations between the temperature-temperature and velocity-velocity changes than those between temperature-velocity. One deduced that the reduction in nerve conduction was therefore primarily the result of the TNS, although further study of this topic is planned.

Effect of transcutaneous nerve stimulation on postoperative pain after thoracotomy : Anesth. Analg., 62 (1983) 1010–1012

Effect of transcutaneous nerve stimulation on postoperative pain after thoracotomy : Anesth. Analg., 62 (1983) 1010–1012

Treatment of peritendinitis calcarea of the shoulder by transcutaneous nerve stimulation.

Low-frequency transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TNS) is known to produce pain relief as well as widespread and prolonged increases in micro-circulation in the skin and other organs. Such stimulation has further been shown to eliminate skin calcium deposits in systemic sclerosis. The present study tested the effects of TNS on clinical symptoms in peritendinitis calcarea of the shoulder and the possibility that this procedure could eliminate calcium deposits in this disease. Ten patients with 14 calcareous shoulders received TNS-treatment with a follow-up time of 3-10 months. Two of these were classified as acute, 9 as chronic, and 3 as asymptomatic. Great relief of pain and of restricted mobility was encountered in 10 of the 11 symptomatic shoulders one week or two after the onset of daily stimulation with subsequent progressive improvement of residual complaints during the following weeks. There was one relapse after 2 months' freedom of pain. Calcium deposits persisted in the 3 asymptomatic shoulders, but was completely eliminated or greatly reduced in 7 of the 11 symptomatic ones. Comparison is made with reported untreated series. Even if most shoulders with calcified peritendinitis will spontaneously improve in time, TNS-treatment shortens the period of incapacitation and discomfort, secures freedom of pain, and allows earlier mobilization. It may thus represent an alternative method to other therapeutic procedures, such as roentgen irradiation and injection of anesthetics and hydrocortisone, in this disabling disorder.

Effect of Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation on Postoperative Pain after Thoracotomy

A prospective randomized double-blind study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TNS) in relief of acute post-thoracotomy pain by comparing postoperative narcotic requirements in 22 patients having TNS and in 22 patients having sham electrical stimulation. All patients in both groups had intrathoracic malignancies. When TNS was used, 22.7% of the patients required no narcotics in the first 24 hr postoperatively. All patients having sham stimulation required postoperative narcotics.

Pain Relief during Childbirth. An Analysis of the Analgesic Effects of Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation (TNS) Compared to Pethidine and Placebos

Pain Relief during Childbirth. An Analysis of the Analgesic Effects of Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation (TNS) Compared to Pethidine and Placebos