Effect of electrode attachment location for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for pain relief in lumbar vertebral body fractures.
Kanshu Hara, Hideki Yoshida, Dai Tanaka
PMID 39092416WHAT IT FOUND
TENS applied to the lumbar region or lower limbs reduced pain during movement for the first two weeks after bed rest began.
Placement on the arms had little effect. Pain relief did not improve daily function or reduce fear of pain, and benefits disappeared by week three.
Key findings
01Pain relief from TENS was significant in the lumbar and lower limb groups compared to control during the first two weeks, but not in the upper limb group.
02There was no significant difference in pain relief between placing electrodes on the painful lumbar region versus the lower limbs.
03TENS did not improve Functional Independence Measure scores or reduce Pain Catastrophizing Scale scores compared to control groups.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample size was relatively small (59 participants). The study included both compression and burst fractures, which may respond differently to TENS. Analgesic drug use was not recorded, so pain relief could have been influenced by medication. TENS was applied at sensory level rather than motor level, which some reports suggest is more effective. Pain relief benefits were temporary, disappearing by the third week, and did not translate to improved function or reduced catastrophizing.
Declared interests
No funding was received for this study. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that short-term pain relief during therapy sessions will lead to better functional outcomes or faster recovery. The study showed no improvement in daily living activities or pain catastrophizing scores compared to control, and pain relief benefits faded by the third week.