Background: Interferential current is one of the most common electrotherapeutic modalities used in the treatment of painful conditions. Patients seeking medical help to reduce their musculoskeletal pain can be treated using interferential current. Objective: The current review aimed to analyze the recently available information regarding the efficacy of interferential current in alleviating the pain of musculoskeletal origin. Methods: This study used Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, MEDLINE, Embase, and EBSCOas as data sources. The initial selection of the studies, thorough assessment of the full articles, and extraction of the necessary study characteristics were carried out by two independent reviewers. Another two independent reviewers assessed the methodological quality of each included trial against 39 criteria. These criteria were integrated from several popular scales. Pain intensity-measured using the visual analog scale, numeric pain rating scale, or McGill Pain Questionnaire-was the outcome of interest. Results: This review included 35 trials of variable methodological quality from which 19 trials were selected for the meta-analysis. In general, interferential current alone versus placebo demonstrated a significant pain-relieving effect. On the other hand, interferential current showed no significant difference when added to standard treatment compared with placebo plus standard treatment or standard treatment alone. Similarly, interferential current showed no significant difference when compared with other single interventions (laser, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, cryotherapy). Conclusions: Interferential current alone is better than placebo at discharge. However, the low number of studies raises suspicions about this conclusion. Interferential current alone or added to other interventions is not more effective than comparative treatments in relieving musculoskeletal pain.

Background. To investigate the effect of adding r-ESWT to a standard exercise program of chronic non-specific LBP on electrical muscle activity (EMG), pain and function. Materials and methods. Our single-blind randomized controlled trial enrolled 30 patients with chronic non-specific LBP randomly allocated to an r-ESWT (n=15) group and a control group (n=15). All patients received a standard exercise program, while r-ESWT was additionally administered in the r-ESWT group. EMG activity, pain and function were assessed before and after 6 weeks of treatment. Results. After treatment, all outcome measures were significantly different (p < 0.05). The addition of r-ESWT produced a significant increase in EMG activity (of all muscles tested) and a reduction in pain intensity and functional disability scores (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. Conclusions. 1. A standard intervention offered either alone or with r-ESWT increased EMG activities, reduced pain, and enhanced function in patients with chronic non-specific LBP. 2. Adding r-ESWT to the standard intervention program might produce better results.

IntroductionKinesio taping is one of the commonly used treatment modalities in rehabilitation. When applied appropriately, it may improve muscle strength and performance. This study aimed to determine the immediate and short-term effect of 35% tension Kinesio taping on handgrip strength in healthy females.MethodsOverall, 60 healthy female subjects aged 19–30 years were randomly assigned to 2 groups: the tension Kinesio taping group, who received taping with 35% tension, and the control group, who received the same taping technique but with no tension. A hand-held dynamometer was used to measure handgrip strength in all participants. The measurements were taken before taping, as well as at 30 minutes and 24 and 48 hours of taping.ResultsHandgrip strength significantly improved in both groups after taping (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Comparing with the control group, the tension Kinesio taping group demonstrated more significant results at 30 minutes and 24 and 48 hours (<i>p</i> < 0.05).ConclusionsTaping with 35% tension produces an immediate and short-term increase in handgrip strength in healthy females.

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