Effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and interferential currents (IFC) in patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain: randomized clinical trial
CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and interferential current are the most used electrotherapy methods, although there is little scientific evidence to support their use. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of TENS and interferential current among...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Associação Paulista de Medicina
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| Series: | São Paulo Medical Journal |
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| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-31802011000400003&lng=en&tlng=en |
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| author | Ligia Maria Facci Jean Paulus Nowotny Fabio Tormem Virgínia Fernandes Moça Trevisani |
| author_facet | Ligia Maria Facci Jean Paulus Nowotny Fabio Tormem Virgínia Fernandes Moça Trevisani |
| author_sort | Ligia Maria Facci |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and interferential current are the most used electrotherapy methods, although there is little scientific evidence to support their use. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of TENS and interferential current among patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain. DESIGN AND SETTING: Single-blind randomized controlled trial in the Department of Physiotherapy, Centro Universitário de Maringá. METHODS: One hundred and fifty patients were randomly divided into three groups: TENS (group 1), interferential current (group 2) and controls (group 3). The patients designated for electrotherapy received ten 30-minute sessions, while the control group remained untreated. All patients and controls were evaluated before and after treatment using a visual analog scale and the McGill Pain and Roland Morris questionnaires, and regarding their use of additional medications. RESULTS: There was a mean reduction on the visual analog scale of 39.18 mm with TENS, 44.86 mm with interferential current and 8.53 mm among the controls. In the Roland Morris questionnaire, group 1 had a mean reduction of 6.59; group 2, 7.20; and group 3, 0.70 points. In group 1, 84% of the patients stopped using medications after the treatment; in group 2, 75%; and in group 3, 34%. There was no statistically significant difference between the TENS and interferential current groups (P > 0.05); a difference was only found between these groups and the controls (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: There was no difference between TENS and interferential current for chronic low back pain treatment. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT01017913. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T06:23:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a9b9f37973ec41bca1f86ab00efdd758 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1806-9460 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T06:23:55Z |
| publisher | Associação Paulista de Medicina |
| record_format | Article |
| series | São Paulo Medical Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-a9b9f37973ec41bca1f86ab00efdd7582022-12-22T03:44:14ZengAssociação Paulista de MedicinaSão Paulo Medical Journal1806-9460129420621610.1590/S1516-31802011000400003S1516-31802011000400003Effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and interferential currents (IFC) in patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain: randomized clinical trialLigia Maria Facci0Jean Paulus Nowotny1Fabio Tormem2Virgínia Fernandes Moça Trevisani3Centro Universitário CesumarCentro Universitário CesumarCentro Universitário CesumarUniversidade Federal de São PauloCONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and interferential current are the most used electrotherapy methods, although there is little scientific evidence to support their use. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of TENS and interferential current among patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain. DESIGN AND SETTING: Single-blind randomized controlled trial in the Department of Physiotherapy, Centro Universitário de Maringá. METHODS: One hundred and fifty patients were randomly divided into three groups: TENS (group 1), interferential current (group 2) and controls (group 3). The patients designated for electrotherapy received ten 30-minute sessions, while the control group remained untreated. All patients and controls were evaluated before and after treatment using a visual analog scale and the McGill Pain and Roland Morris questionnaires, and regarding their use of additional medications. RESULTS: There was a mean reduction on the visual analog scale of 39.18 mm with TENS, 44.86 mm with interferential current and 8.53 mm among the controls. In the Roland Morris questionnaire, group 1 had a mean reduction of 6.59; group 2, 7.20; and group 3, 0.70 points. In group 1, 84% of the patients stopped using medications after the treatment; in group 2, 75%; and in group 3, 34%. There was no statistically significant difference between the TENS and interferential current groups (P > 0.05); a difference was only found between these groups and the controls (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: There was no difference between TENS and interferential current for chronic low back pain treatment. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT01017913.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-31802011000400003&lng=en&tlng=enPhysical therapyRehabilitationElectric stimulation therapyBack painSpine |
| spellingShingle | Ligia Maria Facci Jean Paulus Nowotny Fabio Tormem Virgínia Fernandes Moça Trevisani Effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and interferential currents (IFC) in patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain: randomized clinical trial São Paulo Medical Journal Physical therapy Rehabilitation Electric stimulation therapy Back pain Spine |
| title | Effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and interferential currents (IFC) in patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain: randomized clinical trial |
| title_full | Effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and interferential currents (IFC) in patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain: randomized clinical trial |
| title_fullStr | Effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and interferential currents (IFC) in patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain: randomized clinical trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and interferential currents (IFC) in patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain: randomized clinical trial |
| title_short | Effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and interferential currents (IFC) in patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain: randomized clinical trial |
| title_sort | effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation tens and interferential currents ifc in patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain randomized clinical trial |
| topic | Physical therapy Rehabilitation Electric stimulation therapy Back pain Spine |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-31802011000400003&lng=en&tlng=en |
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