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Evidence summaries

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (Tens) for Chronic Pain

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) might possibly have no effect for chronic pain in the long term, although the evidence is insufficient. There is some weak evidence of the effectiveness of single-dose TENS. Level of evidence: "D"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 [withdrawn from publication] included 25 studies with 1281 patients. Overall in 13 of 22 inactive control studies there was a positive analgesic outcome in favour of the active TENS treatment. For the multiple dose treatment comparison studies only eight of fifteen were considered to be in favour of the active TENS treatments. Seven of the nine active controlled studies found no difference in analgesic efficacy between High Frequency (HF) TENS and Low Frequency (LF) TENS.

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by inconsistency (heterogeneity in interventions and outcomes), imprecise results and poor study quality.

References

  • Nnoaham KE, Kumbang J. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for chronic pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2008;(3):CD003222 [withdrawn from publication]. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords