Purpose To evaluate the additional effect of high frequency (HF) or low frequency (LF) transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in a specific therapeutic exercise program for the treatment of patients with chronic neck pain. Methods A randomized controlled trial. Sixty participants of both sexes and with chronic neck pain were randomized into three groups: therapeutic exercise group + placebo TENS (n = 20), therapeutic exercise group + HF TENS (n = 20) and therapeutic exercise group + low TENS frequency (n = 20). The following assessment instruments were used: Numerical Pain Rating Scale, Neck Disability Index, Pain‐Related Catastrophizing Thoughts Scale and Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia. Participants were evaluated before the interventions, after eight treatment sessions and 1 month after the end of treatment. Primary outcome was disability measured after the eight treatment sessions. Secondary outcomes were pain intensity, catastrophizing, and kinesiophobia after eight treatment sessions and pain intensity 4 weeks after the end of the treatment sessions. Results The three groups were similar at baseline for personal and clinical characteristics. Regarding the main study analyses, there were no significant (p > 0.05) or clinical (d < 0.80) differences between the groups for the main variable (disability), nor for the secondary variables (pain intensity, catastrophizing and kinesiophobia). Conclusion HF or LF TENS, compared to placebo TENS, does not provide additional clinical benefits to an exercise program for patients with chronic neck pain.

Osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative disease that affects the joints, in particular, the knee is the most commonly affected. Pain, stiffness, and crepitus in joint movement are some of the symptoms that disable individuals. The treatment of this disease includes control of body mass (weight reduction), use of anti-inflammatory drugs, and exercise 1 .Recent studies have focused on understanding the risks of comorbidities associated with knee osteoarthritis 2 , the biochemical and gait parameters after arthroplasty 2,3 , and prognosis after therapies in bilateral knee osteoarthritis (B-KO) and unilateral knee osteoarthritis (U-KO) 4 .Asymmetry between the lower limbs seems to be more prevalent in individuals with B-KO 5 , while the reduction in muscle strength and volume of the affected limb is more observed in individuals with U-KO 6 , and both (B-KO and U-KO) have already been associated with primary and secondary hyperalgesia 7 . However, these clinical differences have been less investigated.Marmon et al. 8 and Messier et al. 9 described that, regardless of the number of affected knees, individuals with knee osteoarthritis have similar functional capacity and biomechanical parameters. Riddle and Stratford 10 pointed out that people with U-KO have higher levels of pain; however, according to the authors themselves, the differences between the clinical variables of bilateral and unilateral involvement in knee osteoarthritis remain controversial and little known. In this perspective, this study aimed to compare pain intensity, stiffness, functionality, central sensitization, and self-efficacy between individuals

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Background The Work Role Functioning Questionnaire 2.0 (WRFQ 2.0) is an instrument that measures the difficulties perceived by workers in meeting work demands, given their physical or emotional health, but it has not yet been adapted for Brazil. Thus, this study aimed to translate, cross-culturally adapt and assess the psychometric properties of the WRFQ 2.0 into Brazilian Portuguese. Methods This is an observational study. Initially, translation and cross-cultural adaptation into Brazilian Portuguese was carried out. After that, this version was submitted to an evaluation of its internal structure. The internal consistency and test–retest reliability were assessed. To determine the construct validity, Spearman's correlation coefficient (rho) was used to determine the magnitude of correlation between the WRFQ 2.0 and the Work Ability Index (WAI), Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and Self -Estimated Functional Inability because of Pain (SEFIP-work). Results The internal structure with five domains and 27 items presented adequate fit indices for the Brazilian version of the WRFQ 2.0. Adequate correlations of the five domains of the WRFQ 2.0 with the NPRS, WAI and SEFIP-work were found (rho ranged between 0.145 and 0.338). The test–retest reliability of the WRFQ 2.0 ranged from substantial to excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient ≥ 0.785) and internal consistency was adequate (Cronbach's alpha ≥ 0.852). Conclusion The Brazilian Portuguese version of the WRFQ 2.0 presents valid internal structure with five domains and 27 items, adequate construct based on correlations with other instruments, and acceptable test–retest reliability and internal consistency.