Electrocortical Analysis of Patients with Intercostobrachial Pain Treated with TENS after Breast Cancer Surgery

Abstract

[Purpose] Among the physical therapeutic procedures to decrease pain, there is transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation (TENS). There is no consensus about its efficacy for oncological patients, especially for post-mastectomy pain and eletrocortical changes in somatosensory areas. The aim of this study was to analyze acute electrocortical changes after TENS treatment of patients with intercostobrachial post mastectomy pain. [Subjects] Eighteen patients were divided into acupuncture (A) and burst (B) group. [Methods] In this pre and post-intervention study each group was measured for EEG analysis in absulte power in alpha band (8–14 Hz). Outcomes variables were the alpha waveband in the sensorymotor cortex and pain pre-and-post TENS intervention. Data were analyzed using ANOVA to compare times (rest, 10 and 15 min), group and electrodes. Pain was analyzed using percentual pain evaluation (PPE) in both groups. [Results] Outcomes indicate main effects of time and electrodes because of slow (8–10 Hz) and fast alpha (10–12 Hz) wavebands decreased. PPE reduced 88.4% in A and 66.3% in G. [Conclusion] TENS promoted electrical modification in the parietal region and a decrease in pain. Future studies should investigate other wave must be proposed for other bands and use different methods of EEG analysis to elucidate the actual mechanisms behind the efficacy of TENS treatment.

Analgesic Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and Interferential Current on Experimental Ischemic Pain Models: Frequencies of 50 Hz and 100 Hz

“…Electrical stimulation is a popular treatment used by physiotherapists for muscle strengthening, endurance, spasticity management, pain control, circulation promotion and edema control 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ) . Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and interferential current (IFC) are widely used for relief of chronic and acute pain 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ) .…”

Characterization of chronic pain in breast cancer survivors using the McGill Pain Questionnaire

“…Silva et al (2014) found a reduction in intercostobrachial pain among breast cancer survivors following the administration of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Fernández-Lao et al (2012) found an increase in the pressure pain threshold using a protocol involving endurance, stretching, strengthening and massage.…”

EEG alpha activity increased in response to transcutaneous electrical nervous stimulation in young healthy subjects but not in the healthy elderly

“…However, the preliminary aim of the present study is not to produce pain but find out the effects of TENS application, which is a device mostly used in the treatment of pain. There are few studies which have analyzed the effect of TENS with EEG (Olson, 1993;Urasaki et al, 1998;Hoshiyama & Kakigi, 2000;Silva et al, 2014;Pierleoni, Gizdulich & Paoletti, 2011;Ebrahimian et al, 2018). In these studies EEG was recorded to find out the pre and post-treatment effects of TENS application in different groups of subjects.…”