Article

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is commonly used
for the management of pain; however, its effects on several pain and function
measures are unclear. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the
effects of high-frequency TENS (HF-TENS) and low-frequency TENS (LF-TENS) on
several outcome measures (pain at rest, movement-evoked pain, and pain
sensitivity) in people with knee osteoarthritis.
DESIGN: The study was a
double-blind, randomized clinical trial. SETTING: The setting was a tertiary care
center. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-five participants with knee osteoarthritis (29 men
and 46 women; 31-94 years of age) were assessed. INTERVENTION: Participants were
randomly assigned to receive HF-TENS (100 Hz) (n=25), LF-TENS (4 Hz) (n=25), or
placebo TENS (n=25) (pulse duration=100 microseconds; intensity=10% below motor
threshold). MEASUREMENTS: The following measures were assessed before and after a
single TENS treatment: cutaneous mechanical pain threshold, pressure pain
threshold (PPT), heat pain threshold, heat temporal summation, Timed "Up & Go"
Test (TUG), and pain intensity at rest and during the TUG. A linear mixed-model
analysis of variance was used to compare differences before and after TENS and
among groups (HF-TENS, LF-TENS, and placebo TENS). RESULTS: Compared with placebo
TENS, HF-TENS and LF-TENS increased PPT at the knee; HF-TENS also increased PPT
over the tibialis anterior muscle. There was no effect on the cutaneous
mechanical pain threshold, heat pain threshold, or heat temporal summation. Pain
at rest and during the TUG was significantly reduced by HF-TENS, LF-TENS, and
placebo TENS. LIMITATIONS: This study tested only a single TENS treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: Both HF-TENS and LF-TENS increased PPT in people with knee
osteoarthritis; placebo TENS had no significant effect on PPT. Cutaneous pain
measures were unaffected by TENS. Subjective pain ratings at rest and during
movement were similarly reduced by active TENS and placebo TENS, suggesting a
strong placebo component of the effect of TENS.

Langue : ANGLAIS