Comparative analysis between three forms of application of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and its effect in college students with non-specific low back pain

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There are a variety of ways to apply the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) without an established way that provides better results in the treatment of nonspecific low back pain. The objective of this study was to evaluate which application of TENS has a better effect on the immediate reduction of the intensity of spontaneous and provoked pain in college students with nonspecific low back pain. METHODS: Quantitative, randomized and cross-sectional study. Twenty young individuals were divided into four groups and received a different intervention per week, totaling four weeks. The groups were Conventional TENS with the frequency of 100Hz, a pulse duration of 200μs; TENS with frequency and intensity variation with frequency variation and automatic pulse duration, TENS Burst with frequency modulated at 2Hz, pulse duration of 250μs; and placebo in which the subjects underwent a pacing protocol with no tingling sensation or muscle contraction. All sessions had a total application time of 20 minutes. They were evaluated for spontaneous pain through the application of the visual analog scale (VAS), and pain provoked by the algometer and cold pain through the application of solid ice directly to the skin, and VAS for the intensity of cold pain, all performed before and after each application of the electrotherapy. RESULTS: Only the visual analog scale of spontaneous pain showed significant results (p<0.05) when compared intragroups, in the three applied currents. CONCLUSION: The three forms used in the present study were able to reduce spontaneous pain after the intervention by electrostimulation. Comparative analysis between three forms of application of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and its effect in college students with non-specific low back pain Análise comparativa de três formas de aplicação de estimulação elétrica nervosa transcutânea e seu efeito na redução da dor em universitários com lombalgia inespecífica Carla Maria Verruch1, Andersom Ricardo Fréz2, Gladson Ricardo Flor Bertolini1 Carla Maria Verruch \ue9d9https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5072-407X; Andersom Ricardo Fréz \ue9d9https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6085-1382; Gladson Ricardo Flor Bertolini \ue9d9https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0565-2019. 1. Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, Cascavel, PR, Brasil. 2. Universidade Estadual do Centro Oeste, Guarapuava, PR, Brasil. Submitted on December 11, 2018. Accepted for publication on March 06, 2019. Conflict of interests: none – Sponsoring sources: none. Correspondence to: Rua Universitária, 2069 – Jardim Universitário 85819-110 Cascavel, PR, Brasil. E-mail: [email protected] © Sociedade Brasileira para o Estudo da Dor