Efﬁcacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in people with pain after spinal cord injury: a meta-analysis

Spinal Cord, 2022 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-022-00776-z · Published: March 11, 2022

Spinal Cord Injury Neurology Pain Management

Simple Explanation

Pain is a common complication after spinal cord injury, affecting a large percentage of patients and impacting their quality of life. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is a non-invasive method used to relieve pain by stimulating nerves through the skin. This meta-analysis examines the effectiveness of TENS in reducing pain for individuals who have experienced pain following a spinal cord injury.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

165 cases (83 in the test group, 82 in the control group)

Evidence Level

Meta-analysis of six randomized controlled trials

Key Findings

1
TENS was found to significantly reduce pain as measured by the visual analog scale (VAS) in patients with spinal cord injury.
2
TENS was also associated with lower scores on the short-form McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ), indicating an improvement in pain perception.
3
The study suggests that TENS has clinical therapeutic effects for pain management in people with spinal cord injury.

Research Summary

This meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of TENS for pain relief in individuals with SCI, incorporating data from six studies. The results indicate that TENS can improve pain symptoms, as evidenced by decreased VAS and SF-MPQ scores in the treatment group compared to the control group. The authors acknowledge the moderate quality of the included articles and call for further research with larger sample sizes and long-term follow-up.

Practical Implications

Clinical Practice

TENS can be considered as a therapeutic option for pain management in patients with spinal cord injury.

Combined Therapies

TENS can be used alone or in combination with other modalities to enhance pain relief for SCI patients.

Future Research

Further research is needed to assess the long-term efficacy and optimal parameters for TENS treatment in this population.

Efﬁcacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in people with pain after spinal cord injury: a meta-analysis

Simple Explanation

Key Findings

Research Summary

Practical Implications

Clinical Practice

Combined Therapies

Future Research

Study Limitations

Your Feedback

Was this summary helpful?

Efﬁcacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in people with pain after spinal cord injury: a meta-analysis

Simple Explanation

Key Findings

Research Summary

Practical Implications

Clinical Practice

Combined Therapies

Future Research

Study Limitations

Your Feedback

Was this summary helpful?