Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) in Patients with Pregnancy-Induced Low Back Pain and/or Pelvic Girdle Pain

Abstract

Purpose: Low back and/or pelvic girdle pain is common during pregnancy and may persist after delivery. Therapeutic methods to alleviate pain, with no side effects for mother and child, are of high clinical importance. The consensus statement expresses the position of the Working Group on Evidence-Based Medicine in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, the Austrian Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the Austrian Pain Society, for the treatment of low back and/or pelvic girdle pain by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) during pregnancy. Materials and Methods: The literature was reviewed followed by a subsequent interdisciplinary discussion. Results: Diagnostic investigations, therapeutic options, mode of application as well as efficacy and side effects of the method are presented. Conclusion: TENS is a safe therapy for low back and/or pelvic girdle pain in the last trimester of pregnancy with no side effects, low costs and the possibility of home application.

Knowledge Mapping Analysis of Research on Pregnancy-Related Pelvic Girdle Pain (PPGP) from 2002 to 2022 Using Bibliometrics

“…[58][59][60] In addition to physical therapy and exercise, other treatments that may be helpful for PGP include the use of supportive devices such as pelvic belts or crutches, hot or cold therapy, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). 12,61 In some cases, a combination of treatments may be required to effectively manage PGP symptoms.…”

Važnost primjene fizikalne terapije u skrbi za trudnice

“…43 U jednom istraživanju uspoređivali su se učinci mobilizacijskih tehnika sakroilijakalnog zgloba u odnosu na učinke terapije TENS-om, te je utvrđeno da su oba načina vrlo učinkovita u smanjenju zdjeličnih bolova uzrokovanih trudnoćom, ali je ipak tehnika mobilizacije sakroilijakalnog zgloba nadmašila učinke TENS-a u smislu poboljšanja stanja trudnica. 44 Zbog lakoće primjene niskih troškova korištenja i jednostavnosti, TENS se smatra vrlo efikasnim elektroterapijskim modalitetom u liječenju bolnosti kod trudnica s bolovima u lumbalnom dijelu kralježnice, što je u skladu s prethodno navedenim i uspoređenim rezultatima istraživanja. 45 Osim za navedene tegobe, u ranijim stadijima trudnoće javljaju se mučnine, vrtoglavice i povraćanje, pri čemu akupunkturni TENS može biti efikasna fizioterapijska metoda za redukciju povraćanja i smirivanje mučnine.…”

Schmerztherapie in der Schwangerschaft

“…Daraus resultierende mögliche Therapieänderungen sollten im Konsens mit der bereits behandelnden Fachdisziplin erfolgen. Werden physikalische Therapien angewendet, gilt TENS Elektrotherapie (Transkutane elektrische Nervenstimulation) als sicher [27]. Dabei handelt es sich um eine nebenwirkungsfreie Therapie bei Schmerzen im thorakolumbalen Übergang, die mehrmals pro Woche als Heimtherapie durchgeführt werden kann.…”