INTRODUCTION After cardiac surgery, patients have a limitation in respiratory muscle strength, which favors the appearing of pulmonary complications. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on the painful process and respiratory muscle strength in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). METHODS The study included patient...

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether transcutaneous electrical stimulation, when applied to acupuncture points in patients after acute stroke, decreases spasticity and/or increases muscle strength more effectively than placebo stimulation and standard rehabilitation. DESIGN Randomized control trial. SUBJECTS Sixty-two patients aged 70.0 (standard deviation 7.4) years and 9.2 (standard deviation...

We compared the effects of four treatment variables on the pain reduction produced by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and attempted to establish indications for TENS based on patient history and pain evaluation items. Treatment variables were the therapist and the three TENS stimulus characteristics--pulse width, frequency, and amplitude. We randomly assigned 192 consecutive adult p...

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) as analgesia during colonoscopy. DESIGN In a randomised controlled trial, patients undergoing diagnostic colonoscopy were assigned to one of three groups: standard medication only (midazolam); active TENS plus standard medication; or non-functioning TENS and standard medication. Efficacy of TENS was dete...

The aim of this educational review is to provide an overview of the clinical application of transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the extremities in patients with upper motor neurone lesions. In general two methods of electrical stimulation can be distinguished: (i) therapeutic electrical stimulation, and (ii) functional electrical stimulation. Therapeutic electrical stimulation improves neu...

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is used clinically by a variety of health care professionals for the reduction of pain. Clinical effectiveness of TENS is controversial, with some studies supporting whereas others refute its clinical use. Although used by health professionals for decades, the mechanisms by which TENS produces analgesia or reduces pain are only recently being e...

BACKGROUND To compare the efficiency of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) with those of exercise and acetaminophen for the treatment of pregnancy-related low back pain (LBP) during the third trimester of pregnancy. METHODS This prospective study included 79 subjects (≥32 gestational weeks) with visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores ≥5. Participants were divided randomly into ...

OBJECTIVE The study aimed to assess the effect of palmitoylethanolamide + transpolydatin combination in patients with vestibulodynia undergoing transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy and to confirm the effectiveness of TENS also in a domiciliary protocol. The study is based on the premise that palmitoylethanolamide + transpolydatin combination may contribute to a down-regula...

BACKGROUND Transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TENS) has been proposed as a means of reducing pain in labour. The TENS unit emits low-voltage electrical impulses which vary in frequency and intensity. During labour, TENS electrodes are generally placed on the lower back, although TENS may be used to stimulate acupuncture points or other parts of the body. The physiological mechanisms whereby TENS...

Postherpetic neuralgia remains a therapeutic challenge for the clinician. Many modalities have been utilized with limited success. In this pilot randomized study of patients who were refractory to previous medicinal treatment, the patients were treated with transcutaneous nerve stimulation with a biofeedback capability. After every two treatments with the sham and true device, the patients were...