Effectiveness of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and Interferential Current in Primary Dysmenorrhea

Abstract

Objective. To compare the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and interferential current in primary dysmenorrhea.Design. A prospective, randomized, and controlled study. Setting. Hacettepe University School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation.Patients. Thirty-four volunteer subjects with primary dysmenorrhea (mean age: 21.35 ± 1.70 years) were included. Statistical analyses were performed in 32 subjects who completed all measures.Interventions. Fifteen subjects received interferential current application for 20 minutes and 17 subjects received transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for 20 minutes when they were experiencing dysmenorrhea.Outcome Measures. Physical characteristics, years since menarche, length of menstrual cycle (days), and duration of menstruation (days) were recorded. Visual analog scale (VAS) intensities of menstrual pain, referred lower limb pain, and low back pain were recorded before treatment, and immediately, 8 hours, and 24 hours after treatment.Results. Intensities of the evaluated parameters decreased beginning from just after the applications in both groups ( P < 0.05). Intensity of referring low back pain in first three measurement times was different between the groups ( P < 0.05), but this difference is thought to be due to the baseline values of the groups. So, it can be said that no superiority existed between the methods ( P > 0.05).Conclusion. Both transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and interferential current appear to be effective in primary dysmenorrhea. As they are free from the potentially adverse effects of analgesics, and no adverse effects are reported in the literature nor observed in this study, a clinical trial of their effectiveness in comparison with untreated and placebo-treated control groups is warranted.

Efficacy of the device combining high-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and thermotherapy for relieving primary dysmenorrhea: a randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled trial

“…The initial menstrual pain intensity score in our study was similar to those reported previously (4.44-7.94) [6,8,22]. However, even though the dysmenorrheal pain intensity score decreased significantly after using the clinical trial device, the averages of mean VAS scores measured after removing the device at every episode in each participant were still high in both groups.…”

İnterferansiyel Akımların Kronik Miyofasyal Ağrı Sendromunda Kısa Dönem Etkinliği

“…Değişik ağrı türlerinde İFA'ların pozitif etkilerini gösteren destekleyici veriler bulunmaktadır (15)(16)(17). Aynı zamanda İFA'ların ek kazanımlar sağlamadığı konusunda da çalışmalar mevcuttur (18,19).…”

Efeitos do ΔF sobre a acomodação da corrente interferencial em sujeitos saudáveis

“…Jorge et al 12 evidence that despite its short duration effect, the IFC is able to reduce the inflammatory pain. Tugay et al 13 mention that the IFC is efficient in the primary dysmenorrhea and studies prove the beneficial effects of IFC in the intestinal function of children with chronic constipation [14][15][16] . The study on interferential current is extremely important since despite being a technique widely used by physiotherapists, it does not present optimum parameters for stimulation; therefore, its therapeutic use is empiric, even to avoid accommodation.…”