Clinical Proof

Clinical research has demonstrated that TENS and lumbar support are an effective method of pain relief. For a more in-depth insight into the clinical trials please click on the relevant trial.

Participants: 2,003 chronic pain patients were treated with TENS to manage their pain.

Methods: After 6 months 506 patients were randomly selected to evaluate the effectiveness of their TENS treatment.

Results: 75% of these patients used the TENS devices for a period of 6 months. They experienced less pain, increased activity, decreased use of other therapies and a decreased use of pain medication.

Fishbain DA, Chabal C, Abbott A, Heine LW, Cutler R. Clin J Pain. 1996 Sep;12(3):201-14. University of Miami School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Florida, USA.

Objective: Previous reviewers of the literature on transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) outcome have concluded the following: (a) there are few long-term TENS follow-up studies, and (b) fewer studies have addressed the effect of long-term TENS use on outcome variables other than pain (e.g., function).

Design: From a population of 2,003 chronic pain patients (CPPs) who bought a TENS device for pain management, 506 patients were randomly selected and interviewed by telephone long enough after purchase to allow at least 6 months of TENS use. The interview process used a structured "skip" questionnaire designed to assess the CPPs' perceptions regarding the effectiveness of TENS for a variety of outcome variables. Of the 506 CPPs interviewed, 376 (74.3%) had used their TENS device for 6 months or longer and were defined as long-term users. The responses of this group of CPPs to the telephone questionnaire were then subjected to statistical analysis.

Results: Paired t-tests, correlated z-tests, SS Wilks, and chi-square tests demonstrated statistically significant change or improvement (p < 0.05) that paralleled the introduction of TENS use in the following outcome variables: less pain interference with work, home, and social activities; increased activity level and pain management; decreased use of other therapies (e.g., physical therapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic); decreased use of narcotics, tranquillisers, muscle relaxants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids.

Conclusion: The results suggest that TENS is associated with improvement on multiple outcome variables in addition to pain relief for CPPs who are long-term users. Also, for some CPPs, long-term TENS use continues to be effective. PMID: 8866161 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]