The Effects of High-Frequency Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Dental Professionals with Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Single-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

Abstract

Work-related musculoskeletal symptom disorders (WMSDs) have a significant issue for dental professionals. This study investigated the effects of high-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on work-related pain, fatigue, and the active range of motion in dental professionals. Among recruited 47 dental professionals with WMSDs, 24 subjects received high-frequency TENS (the TENS group), while 23 subjects received placebo stimulation (the placebo group). TENS was applied to the muscle trigger points of the levator scapulae and upper trapezius, while placebo-TENS was administered without electrical stimulation during 60 min. Pain and fatigue at rest and during movement were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS), pain pressure threshold (PPT), and active range of motion (AROM) of horizontal head rotation at six time points: prelabor, postlabor, post-TENS, and at 1 h, 3 h, and 1 day after TENS application. Both groups showed significantly increased pain and fatigue and decreased PPT and AROM after completing a work task. The TENS group showed significantly greater improvements in VAS score, fatigue, PPT, and AROM at post-TENS and at 1 h and 3 h after application (all P < 0.05) as compared to the placebo group. A single session high-frequency TENS may immediately reduce symptoms related to WMSDs in dental professionals.

Effectiveness of Myofascial Release vs High Frequency TENS for Pain Relief and Functional Improvement in College Students with Trapezius Myalgia: A Comparative Study

“…This study aims to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of myofascial release vs high-frequency TENS for pain relief and functional improvement in patients with trapezius myalgia. Myofascial release technique is a soft tissue mobilization technique that is described as the facilitation of mechanical, neural, and psychophysiological adaptive capacity as interfaced through the myofascial system [14]. It works by calming tense muscles while also improving circulation and lymph drainage.…”

“…Generally, such musculoskeletal disorders of neck are usually influenced by prolonged static work posture which leads to few pathophysiological changes in the upper trapezius. Due to physiological changes in the muscle, it leads to elevated anaerobic metabolism and fatigue due to repetitive work [3]. Women are more affected than men, and the prevalence is highest.…”

Transcutaneous electrical stimulation in neck pain: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…(Figure S2b, Table 4). Five studies assessed the effects of ES versus placebo on PPT immediately post-treatment and at short-term follow-up (Hsueh et al, 1997;Maayah & Al-Jarrah, 2010;Rodriguez-Fernandez et al, 2011;Smania et al, 2005;Suh et al, 2015).…”

“…One meta-analysis with three studies showed evidence of very low-quality (downgraded by methodological quality, indirectness and imprecision) that TENS increased PPT compared to placebo immediately post-treatment (SMD 0.37, 95% CI 0.05-0.69) (Figure S3) (Maayah & Al-Jarrah, 2010;Rodriguez-Fernandez et al, 2011;Suh et al, 2015) Subgroup analysis according to duration of symptoms showed no differences between groups. (Figure S3a, Table 4).…”

The Use of Electrical Nerve Stimulation to Treat Migraines: A Systematic Review

“…These wide ranges of frequencies work through various different mechanisms which may influence therapeutic outcomes. For example, in TENS, high-frequency stimulation is thought to inhibit pain according to the gate control theory of pain, while low-frequency stimulation is thought to work through the modulation of opioid receptors, GABA receptors, and serotonin receptors in the periaqueductal gray, rostral ventral medulla, and spinal cord [ 39 , 40 ]. Previous studies that found inconclusive results may have used frequencies that were not therapeutically optimal.…”