Comparative analysis between three forms of application of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and its effect in college students with non-specific low back pain

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:There are a variety of ways to apply the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) without an established way that provides better results in the treatment of nonspecific low back pain. The objective of this study was to evaluate which application of TENS has a better effect on the immediate reduction of the intensity of spontaneous and provoked pain in college students with nonspecific low back pain. METHODS: Quantitative, randomized and cross-sectional study. Twenty young individuals were divided into four groups and received a different intervention per week, totaling four weeks. The groups were Conventional TENS with the frequency of 100Hz, a pulse duration of 200μs; TENS with frequency and intensity variation with frequency variation and automatic pulse duration, TENS Burst with frequency modulated at 2Hz, pulse duration of 250μs; and placebo in which the subjects underwent a pacing protocol with no tingling sensation or muscle contraction. All sessions had a total application time of 20 minutes. They were evaluated for spontaneous pain through the application of the visual analog scale (VAS), and pain provoked by the algometer and cold pain through the application of solid ice directly to the skin, and VAS for the intensity of cold pain, all performed before and after each application of the electrotherapy. RESULTS: Only the visual analog scale of spontaneous pain showed significant results (p<0.05) when compared intragroups, in the three applied currents. CONCLUSION:The three forms used in the present study were able to reduce spontaneous pain after the intervention by electrostimulation. Comparative analysis between three forms of application of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and its effect in college students with non-specific low back painAnálise comparativa de três formas de aplicação de estimulação elétrica nervosa transcutânea e seu efeito na redução da dor em universitários com lombalgia inespecífica

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

“…Pressure was increased until the volunteer reported the onset of pain, and the pressure was recorded in gram-force. For the TENS application, volunteers were positioned in ventral decubitus position on a treatment stretcher, and electrical stimulation was applied through the TENS device (Ibramed®, Amparo, Brazil), with phase duration of 250µs and frequency of 100Hz, by pairs of electrodes placed bilaterally, 1cm from the spinous processes of the lumbar vertebrae, from L1 to L5, for 30 minutes, at the patient›s tolerance level 17 . Each individual was warned that they would feel a tingling sensation from moderate to strong, but not pain, and when they felt the intensity of the current accommodating, they should tell the therapist, so that the intensity is increased.…”

Exercícios Do Metodo Pilates E Seus Efeitos No Tratamento Da Dor Lombar Crônica – Revisão Sistemática

“…A DLC é definida como dor ou desconforto, localizada na região dorsal entre as ultimas costelas e a prega glúteas, podendo ou não irradiar para os membros inferiores (MMII), e na sua especificidade pode ser por três mecanismos: patologia espinhal específica, dor irradiada e do tipo inespecífica, ou seja, não está associada a uma doença/lesão prévia, infecções, tumores, fraturas, deformidade estruturais, síndrome radicular, entre outras. A DLC inespecífica é caracterizada como dor com mais de três meses de episódio, e tem maior prevalência nas mulheres do que em homens, devido a estruturas anatômicas que facilitam essa condição, como: menor quantidade de massa muscular, menos densidade óssea, maior massa gorda e articulações mais frágeis (ELIAS;LONGEN., 2020;VERRUCH;FRÉZ;BERTOLINI., 2019;DOHNERT;BAUER;PAVÃO., 2015).…”

Estimulação elétrica nervosa transcutânea (TENS) em pacientes oncológicos: Uma revisão integrativa / Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in cancer patients: An integrative review

“…A principal característica da TENS burst são os fortes estímulos que despolarizam as fibras de dor, tanto as rápidas quanto as lentas, que ativam mecanismos na ponte e bulbo, e consequentemente produzem a analgesia (VERRUCH, 2019).…”