• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.29-35
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to compare acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(ALTENS) with conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(C-TENS) for crossover effect in healthy subjects. Forty subjects recieved ALTENS(20 persons), C-TENS(20 persons) to one upper extremity. Each technic was applied to the motor point of the wrist extensor muscle group for twenty-minutes. With the subject placed in supine the technics were applied at 80 Hz, 2-10 mA(ALTENS) and 10 Hz, 4-12 mA(C-TENS). Results revealed: (1) a significant difference between the pretreatment and posttreatment in each group(p<.05) (2) no significant difference between ALTENS and C-TENS(p>.05). In conclusion, there was no difference between ALTENS and C-TENS for crossover effect.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.217-228
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• 2021

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in chronic low back pain and neuropathic pain. Methods: Seventy-four patients aged 18-65 with chronic low back pain were included in the study. Baseline measurements were performed, and patients were randomized into three groups. The first group received burst TENS (bTENS), the second group conventional TENS (cTENS), and the third group placebo TENS (pTENS), all over 15 sessions. Patients' visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were evaluated before treatment (preT), immediately after treatment (postT), and in the third month after treatment (postT3). Douleur Neuropathique 4 Questions (DN4), the Modified Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire (MOS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and sympathetic skin response (SSR) values were also evaluated preT and postT3. Results: A statistically significant improvement was observed in mean VAS scores postT compared to preT in all three groups. Intergroup comparison revealed a significant difference between preT and postT values, that difference being assessed in favor of bTENS at multiple comparison analysis. Although significant improvement was determined in neuropathic pain DN4 scores measured at postT3 compared to preT in all groups, there was no significant difference between the groups. No statistically significant difference was also observed between the groups in terms of MOS, BDI, or SSR values at postT3 (P > 0.05). Conclusions: bTENS therapy in patients with low back pain is an effective and safe method that can be employed in short-term pain control.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.185-191
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• 2023

Objective: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a treatment method for pain, and it can be divided into conventional TENS (C-TENS) and acupuncture-like TENS (A-TENS). More recently, high power lasers have increasingly been used to reduce pain caused by arthritis, residual neuralgia, and musculoskeletal disorders. The aim of this study was to compare the laser needle with C-TENS and A-TENS in terms of pain and blood flow in healthy people, as well as to confirm that the laser needle can replace TENS to treat pain. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: The selected participants were divided using Minimize computer software into a laser group (n=13), a C-TENS group (n=13), and an A-TENS group (n=14); they underwent a pre-test for blood flow and pain in their forearm. The three groups received their respective interventions; they then underwent a second pain and blood flow test on the same spot. Results: No significant differences were observed in the A-TENS group between the pre- and post-tests, and a comparison among the three groups revealed no significant differences between the laser needle group and the C-TENS group in terms of pain. Regarding blood flow, no significant differences were found between the pre- and post-tests in the laser needle group; a comparison among the three groups only revealed a significant between the laser needle and A-TENS groups. Conclusions: This study confirmed that the laser needle can be used to treat pain when it is necessary to control blood flow.