Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS): A Technology Assessment

Reeve, Janis; Menon, Devidas; Corabian, Paula

doi:10.1017/s026646230000965x

Cited by 63 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 74 publications

(15 reference statements)

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“…These theories include inhibition of nociceptors, blockage of pain transmission in afferent nerves, sympathetic blockage, gate control theory and increase in release of endogen opiates (6). There is a conflicting evidence in the literature whether the TENS treatment is effective in reducing the pain caused by knee OA (7,8,15,16). In a panel organized in Philadelphia in 2001, 6 randomized controlled trials investigating the rehabilitation approaches to knee pain were reviewed systematically and the consensus report stated that despite the differences in those studies, TENS is useful in reducing pain and improving global assessment of patient (17).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of TENS on Pain, Disabiliy, Quality of Life and Depression in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

2010

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Objective: The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on pain, disability, functional performance, quality of life (QoL) and depression in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Materials and Methods: Forty patients with primary knee OA diagnosed according to The American College of Rheumatology criteria were randomized into groups. Patients in the Group 1 received TENS, exercise program and hot pack. Group 2 received placebo TENS, exercise program, hot pack and served as a control group. Assessment of pain (visual analog scale, VAS; Western Ontario McMaster Osteoarthritis Index, WOMAC pain score), disability and stiffness (WOMAC physical function and stiffness score), functional performance (6-minute walk distance test, 6MWD; 10 steps stairs climbing up-down time), QOL (Short Form 36, SF 36) and depression (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI) were done in all patients before and after the treatment. Treatment sessions were performed 5 days a week, for 3 weeks. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in pain, disability, stiffness, functional performance, most of the subscores of SF 36 and depression score after the 3 weeks treatment program. The improvements in pain, WOMAC pain, disability and sub-scores of SF 36 were better in the active TENS group compared to the control group. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that addition of TENS to hotpack and exercise program is more effective in decreasing knee pain and related disability and improving QoL in patients with knee OA. (Turk J Rheumatol 2010; 25: 116-21

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of TENS on Pain, Disabiliy, Quality of Life and Depression in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

2010

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“…The first systematic reviews on TENS were published in 1996 and they challenged the belief at the time that TENS was efficacious for acute and chronic pain (Carroll et al 1996, Reeve et al 1996 ( Table 1). Since then there has been a proliferation of systematic reviews, many using methodology of the Cochrane collaboration (Cochrane reviews).…”

Section: Evidence For the Effectiveness Of Tensmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation: review of effectiveness

Johnson

2014

Nursing Standard

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“…[43][44][45] However, a health technology assessment by Reeve et al 46 reported that TENS was demonstrated to be of bene t in only 12/20 randomized controlled trials (RCTs). A systematic review by Carroll et al 42 reported that TENS did not produce signi cant bene t when compared with placebo in 15/17 RCTs.…”

Section: Tens and Postoperative Painmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Reeve et al reported that TENS was more effective than sham (n = 7) or no treatment (n = 2) in 9/20 RCTs. 46 McQuay and Moore stated that TENS was better than sham TENS, placebo pills, or inappropriate electrode placements in 10/24 RCTs. 56 Carroll et al reported that TENS provided better pain relief than sham or no treatment in 10/15 RCTs.…”

Section: Tens and Chronic Painmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and TENS-like devices: do they provide pain relief?

Johnson¹

2001

Pain Reviews

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The term 'transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation' (TENS) is synonymous with a standard TENS device. Increasingly, nonstandard TENS-like devices are being marketed to health care professionals for pain relief. These include: interferential current therapy, microcurrent electrical therapy, high-voltage pulsed (galvanic) currents, TENS-pens, transcranial electrical stimulation and Limoge currents, Codetron, transcutaneous spinal electroanalgesia, action potential simulation, and H-wave therapy. This review evaluates the effectiveness of TENS and TENS-like devices for pain relief, to inform health care professionals about device selection. The results from systematic reviews suggest that TENS is not effective for postoperative pain and labour pain, although volatile evaluation models may partly explain the ndings. Evidence is inconclusive for chronic pain. Health care professionals should not dismiss the use of TENS for any condition until the issues in clinical trial design and review methodology have been resolved. There is limited experimental evidence available for most TENS-like devices. Claims by manufacturers about the speci city and extent of effects produced using TENS-like devices are overstated and could probably be achieved by using a standard TENS device or a microcurrent electrical therapy device. When making decisions about device selection, health care professionals should consider the physiological intention of currents and whether this can be achieved by using particular devices. Clinical trials that examine the relative effectiveness of TENS-like devices with a standard TENS device are desperately needed.

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Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS): A Technology Assessment

Cited by 63 publications

References 74 publications

Effects of TENS on Pain, Disabiliy, Quality of Life and Depression in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

Effects of TENS on Pain, Disabiliy, Quality of Life and Depression in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation: review of effectiveness

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and TENS-like devices: do they provide pain relief?

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