Low and High-frequency TENS in Post-episiotomy Pain Relief: a Randomized, Double-blind Clinical Trial

Overview

Journal Braz J Phys Ther

Specialty Rehabilitation Medicine

Date 2014 Mar 29

PMID 24675915

Citations 9

Authors

Ana C R Pitangui

Rodrigo C Araujo

Michelle J S Bezerra

Camila O Ribeiro

Ana M S Nakano

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of low-frequency TENS (LFT) and high-frequency TENS (HFT) in post-episiotomy pain relief.

Method: A randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial with placebo composed of 33 puerperae with post-episiotomy pain. TENS was applied for 30 minutes to groups: HFT(100 Hz; 100 µs), LFT (5 Hz; 100 µs), and placebo (PT). Four electrodes were placed in parallel near the episiotomy and four pain evaluations were performed with the numeric rating scale. The first and the second evaluation took place before TENS application and immediately after its removal and were done in the resting position and in the activities of sitting and ambulating. The third and fourth evaluation took place 30 and 60 minutes after TENS removal, only in the resting position. Intragroup differences were verified using the Friedman and Wilcoxon tests, and the intergroup analysis employed the Kruskal-Wallis test.

Results: In the intragroup analysis, there was no significant difference in the PT during rest, sitting, and ambulation (P>0.05). In the HFT and LFT, a significant difference was observed in all activities (P<0.001). In the intergroup analysis, there was a significant difference in the resting position in the HFT and LFT (P<0.001). In the sitting activity, a significant difference was verified in the second evaluation in the HFT and LFT (P<0.008). No significant difference was verified among the groups in ambulation (P<0.20).

Conclusions: LFT and HFT are an effective resource that may be included in the routine of maternity wards.

Citing Articles

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Characterising the Features of 381 Clinical Studies Evaluating Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for Pain Relief: A Secondary Analysis of the Meta-TENS Study to Improve Future Research.

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The Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Post-Episiotomy Pain Severity in Primiparous Women: A Randomized, Controlled, Placebo Clinical Trial.

Zakariaee S, Shahoei R, Hashemi Nosab L, Moradi G, Farshbaf M Galen Med J. 2021; 8:e1404.

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