Efficacy of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Osteoarthritis of the Lower Extremities: a Meta-analysis

Abstract

Although transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is commonly used to treat the pain of osteoarthritis, the effectiveness of this type of stimulation for pain relief remains controversial. This review found statistically significant results favouring conventional and acupuncture-like stimulation for pain relief and stiffness relief. Mixed stimulation was effective in reducing knee pain but had less effect on hip pain. Burst nerve stimulation resulted in statistically significant relief of knee stiffness and increase in long-term pain relief. Conventional, burst, acupuncturelike, and mixed transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation have some benefit over placebo for certain aspects of osteoarthritis-associated disability, and can be used as an adjunct therapy for treatment of patients with arthritis involving the hips and/or knees.

Influence of transcutaneous electrical stimulation on heterotopic ossification: an experimental study in Wistar rats

“…According to Rushton ( 30 ), TENS is one of the main therapeutic electrical currents used in acute and chronic pain conditions. This treatment has been used extensively in healthcare centers for the symptomatic management of acute and chronic pain of benign origin, and also in the palliative care of pain caused by metastatic bone diseases and neoplasms ( 31 ).…”

Does transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) simultaneously combined with local heat and cold applications enhance pain relief compared with TENS alone in patients with knee osteoarthritis?

“…TENS is a method of electrical stimulation which primarily aims to provide a degree of symptomatic pain relief by exciting sensory nerves, which stimulate either the pain-gate mechanism and/or the opioid system 4 ) . Several systematic reviews have shown that TENS is one of the recommended treatments for pain relief in some patients with knee OA 5 , 6 , 7 ) . However, a previous study showed that there were no significant differences in performance measures between active TENS and placebo TENS 8 ) .…”

Opportunities and place of physical therapy in the complex treatment of osteoarthritis

“…Електродите са поставени върху кожата в областта на болката. Методиката купира в значителна степен острата и хроничната болка, особено в краткосрочен план (първите 2-4 седмици от терапията) [15,16].…”

“…Въпреки че не са наблюдавани сериозни странични реакции, някои кожни заболявания и наличието на пейсмейкър, дефибрилатор, инфузионни помпи са контраиндикации за прилагането на ТЕНС [15]. OARSI не препоръчва употребата на ТЕНС при ОА поради липсата на убедителни доказателства за нейната ефикасност [17].…”

“…Electrodes are placed on the skin in the area of pain. The methodology alleviates acute and chronic pain, especially in the short term (the fi rst 2 to 4 weeks of therapy) [15,16].…”