Effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and hypnosis on chronic low back pain

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Among the main non-pharmacological analgesic techniques are physical therapies such as electrotherapy and cognitive-behavioral techniques, such as hypnosis. The objective of this study was to compare the analgesic effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and hypnosis in the control of chronic low back pain. METHODS: A crossover study that included 19 young adults of both genders with chronic low back pain who underwent TENS and hypnosis, and pain education as a control group. The quality of pain was assessed by the McGill's questionnaire; pain intensity and threshold were assessed by the visual analog scale. The intensity of spontaneous pain, the threshold and intensity of pain induced by cold and the pressure pain threshold before the interventions, immediately after the interventions and 30 minutes after the end of the interventions were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed with Generalized Mixed Linear Models, with 5% significance, and Cohen's G effect sizes. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant decrease in the intensity of spontaneous and cold induced pain in the hypnosis and TENS groups compared to the pain education group. There was a statistically significant reduction of pain in the sensory and evaluation categories in the intervention groups compared to the control group. There was no significant difference for the pressure pain threshold and latency time for cold induced pain. CONCLUSION: Hypnosis and TENS decreased the intensity of chronic low back pain with no statistically significant difference between them, but statistically different from the pain education control group.