• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.167-173
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• 2024

Background: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) impacts the social, physical, and psychological well-being and quality of life of the patient. Several techniques exist for its management, including transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES). Objects: We aimed to demonstrate the effects of TES on ultrasonographic variables and quality of life in women with SUI. Methods: This prospective study recruited 21 women who had been diagnosed with grade 1 or 2 SUI between July 2018 and March 2019. The exclusion criteria were pregnancy and a history of urogenital surgery. All participants were assessed at baseline and 8 weeks after intervention initiation. The bladder neck position (BNP), length of the urethra (LU), funneling index (FI), and rhabdosphincter thickness (RT) were measured. The Incontinence-Quality of Life (I-QOL) was used to assess incontinence-specific quality of life. Statistical significance level was set at p < 0.05. Results: Twenty-one patients with SUI used TES for 8 weeks. BNP and FI significantly decreased after intervention (p < 0.05). LU, anterior and posterior RT (indicators of external sphincter hypertrophy) significantly increased post-intervention (p < 0.05). The total I-QOL score increased from 64.81 to 71.86 after the intervention (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This intervention improved BNP, LU, FI, RT, and subjective indicators such as quality of life in women with SUI. Therefore, TES can be an effective non-surgical treatment method for improving SUI symptoms and quality of life in these patients.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.2279-2285
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• 2021

Background: The spinal nerves, which start at the lumbar level, are connected to the nerve innervation in the knees. Currently, there is a lack of research on the treatment of knee pain through lumbar mobilization. Objectives: To investigate the effects of lumbar joint mobilization (LJM) and transcutaneous electronic nerve stimulation (TENS) on proprioception and muscular strength in volleyball players with chronic knee pain. Design: Two group pre-posttest. Methods: A total of 26 professional volleyball players with chronic knee pain were allocated to the LJM (n=13) and TENS (n=13) groups. In the LJM group, grade III - IV amplitude was applied 3 times for 1 minute (80 times per minute) at the affected lumbar (L2-3) facet joint in the prone position. In the TENS group, the TENS treatment device was used to directly apply or 15 minutes to the area of chronic knee pain (100 Hz, 150 ㎲). Proprioception was measured by knee flexion and extension angles, and muscle strength was evaluated using an isokinetic test. Measurements were taken before and after interventions. Results: In the eye opened conditiond, proprioception significantly increased during both knee extension and flexion after LJM, while only knee extension was significantly increased in the TENS group. There was also a significant difference in knee extension between the two groups. In the eye close conditiond, proprioception was significantly improved only during knee extension in the LJM group, and the difference in knee extension between the groups was also significant (P<.05). The maximum torque of the affected knee joint was significantly improved at 60°/sec in both groups (P<.05); however, there was no difference between the two groups. There was no significant difference in the maximum flexion torque within or between the groups. Conclusion: This study suggests that LJM improved proprioception and muscular strength in volleyball players with chronic knee pain.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.538-546
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on muscular strength, pain, range of motion and fear-avoidance in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) patients. The subjects of this study who received ACLR after arthroscopic injury were divided into two groups: NMES (n=14) and TENS (n=14). Each group received intervention after routine physical therapy. Each electrotherapy intervention was applied regularly for a total of 12 times, 3 times a day (30 minutes) for 4 weeks. The evaluation by intervention method included isokinetic muscle strength in flexion and extension of the knee joint, pain, range of motion of the knee joint, and fear-avoidance beliefs. The results showed significant improvement in pain, range of motion, and fear-avoidance beliefs in both groups (p<0.05). However, there was a significant improvement in isokinetic knee flexion and extension strength only in the NMES group (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two electrotherapy methods in muscle strength, pain, range of motion, and fear-avoidance beliefs. These study results suggest that NMES and TENS can be effective intervention methods for pain, range of motion, and fear-avoidance response in patients with ACLR, but to improve muscle strength NMES may be more effective.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4045-4052
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• 2012

The aim of this single blind intervation study was to compare the analgesic effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and interferential currents (IFC) on cold-induced pain in healthy volunteers. Sixteen subjects completed six cycles of the cold-induced pain test. During each cycle pain threshold was recorded as the time from immersion of the subject is hand in cold water to the first sensation of pain and pain intensity and unpleasantness ratings were recorded using visual analogue scales. Subjects were randomly allocated to receive each 50 Hz-TENS, 50 Hz-IFC, 100 Hz-TENS and 100 Hz-IFC. Statistical analysis showed that four interventions elevated the cold pain threshold significantly and the difference between interventions was not simply significant. But, no significant differences were identified in pain intensity and unpleasantness ratings. We conclude that there were no differences in the analgesic effects of the four interventions under the present experimental conditions. But, 50 Hz-IFC has been shown to be more comfortable than other interventions.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.5-15
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• 1994

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of electroanalgeia and $\beta-endorphin$ action by acupuncture-like (Lof/Hil) transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) applied to acupuncture points. Twelve healthy adult male aged between 19 ann 25 were randomly assigned to TENS group (n=6) and naloxone group (n=6). Subjects of both groups were strongly stimulated TENS with 4 pps and $200{\mu}s$ for 30 minutes on the LI 3 and LI 10 meridian points of dominant am. Naloxone group was injected naloxone hydrochloride before TENS application. The experimental pain threshold was measured by chronaxie meter CX-2 on the distal end of radius just before and after TENS application. The levels of plasma $\beta-endorphin$ and ACTH. serum cortisol and urinary 17-OHCS were analyzed by radioimmunoassay (RIA) kits before and after TENS application. In TENS group, there was a significant increase of experimental pain threshold (p<0.01), plasma $\beta-endorphin$ level (p<0.05), serum cortisol level (p<0,001) and urinary 17-OHCS levels (p<0.05) after TENS application. The plasma ACTH level was not significantly increased, but it showed an increasing tendency. In naloxone group, although there was a decreasing trend, ACTH and cortisol level did not show a significant change, but $\beta-endorphin$ and 17-OHCS level were significantly decreased (p<0.01). The result of this study stewed that acupuncture-like TENS induced analgesic effect, such that the levels of plasma $\beta-endorphin$, plasma ACTH, serum cortisol and urinary 17-OHCS were concomitantly increased with experimental pain threshold. It is suggested that the analgesic mechanism of the acupuncture-like TENS probably related to endogenous opioid component such as $\beta-endorphin$.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.487-498
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• 2010

Purpose : To investigate the immediate effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(TENS) on the spasticity and the balance in the stroke patients. Methods : 26 subjects with spasticity over lower limbs were allocated randomly into two groups : (1) TENS group, (2) placebo-TENS group. TENS was applied on the both gastrocnemius for 60 minutes(100 Hz, 0.25 ms, 2 times sensory threshold). The modified Ashworth Scale(MAS) and Manual Muscle Tester were used to assess the spasticity of the ankle plantar flexors. Static balance under three conditions was measured by force-plate; in (1) the condition of standing with eyes opened, (2) with eyes closed and (3) the condition of standing on unstable surface with eyes opened. Results : When compared with the pre and post TENS application, TENS showed significant reduction of ankle spasticity in MAS and MMT measurement. Also, Application of high-frequency TENS improved the balance under three conditions. Conclusion : A single session of TENS to stroke patients could reduce spasticity and improve the balance.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.222-232
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• 2002

Background and Purpose: After the coronary angiography procedure, patients are required to remain on bed rest to reduce the risk of bleeding and hematoma formation at the puncture site. This prolonged bed rest in the supine position is difficult for many patients, who frequently complain of low back pain. The purpose of the study was to determine whether a specially designed exercise therapy and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) had an effect on the alleviation of low back pain. Method: Sixty-two patients were assigned to one of three groups : specially designed exercise therapy plus TENS plus general nursing care (exercise group N=21), general nursing care plus TENS (TENS group, N=23) or general nursing care (control group, N=18). The exercise therapy consisted of five movements including stretching, pelvic tilting, knee to chest, modified situps and trunk rotation with minimizing the motion of the puncture site. The severity of low back pain was assessed by a visual analogue scale(VAS) every two hours. The use of analgesic and any development of bleeding or other complications were monitored as well. The level of serum ${\beta}$-endorphin was determined before and after the three interventions. Result: The pain score of the exercise group was significantly lowered compared to that of the other groups. There was no difference in the serum ${\beta}$-endorphin level among three groups. Analgesic were less frequently taken by the exercise group. However the incidence of bleeding complications was not significantly different among the three groups. Conclusion: Exercise therapy is more effective than general care or TENS in alleviating low back pain of the patients with coronary angiography.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.442-448
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• 2014

Purpose: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of neuro-feedback training and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on stress, quantitative sensory threshold and pain in patients suffering from tension type headache. Methods: 22 participants who passed the preliminary evaluation were enrolled in the study and 11 participants were randomly assigned to each group. The control group (n=11) was subject to the TENS treatment of which was composed of a 20-minute session for 5 times a week during 4 weeks, and the experimental group (n=11) was subject to both neuro feedback training and TENS treatment for 10 minutes a day and 5 days a week during 4 weeks. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was used to measure a level of stress and the quantitative sensory testing (QST) was used for the measurement of cold pain threshold (CPT) and heat pain threshold (HPT); A degree of pain was evaluated through the headache impact test-6 (HIT-6). Results: In comparision of all dependent variables between the control and subject groups, there were significant differences in stress, quantitative sensory threshold and pain after the treatment (p<0.05), and the experimental group showed significant differences in stress, CPT, HPT and pain (p<0.05) and the control group showed only a significant difference in HPT (p<0.05). Conclusion: Findings of this study demonstrate that the concomitant administration of the TENS treatment and neuro feedback training is effective on alleviation of stress, quantitative sensory threshold and pain in patients with tension type headache.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.11 no.11
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• pp.4418-4426
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• 2010

Muscle fatigue often induces deterioration of postural balance and muscle contraction, such as strength or maximal voluntary contraction(MVC). This study was to investigate the effects of transcutaneous electrical stimulation(TENS) applied to the fatigued muscles on postural imbalance and decline in muscle strength following fatigue of triceps surae. For the 4 months from March, 2010, twenty healthy subjects without vestibular disease and visual disturbance were recruited and induced muscle fatigue of triceps surea performed by repeated voluntary contraction. TENS was applied to gastocnemius immediately after development of muscle fatigue. Postural sway length, velocity and MVC were recorded under these conditions: pre-fatigue, post-fatigue, and TENS application to fatigued muscle during post-fatigue. Muscle fatigue increased postural imbalance as expressed by sway length and velocity and decreased muscle contraction(p<.05), while TENS improved the postural imbalance and MVC following muscle fatigue during stance(p<.05). The results suggested that fatigue on plantar flexor is associated with postural balance and muscle contraction, and TENS application to fatigued muscle was effective in improving postural imbalance and decline in muscle strength following muscle fatigue. TENS will be an effective method in exercise, working environment and daily life.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) and transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation(TENS) after sciatic nerve crush injury in rats. Methods: The EA for experimental group I (Exp I, n=15) and TENS for experimental group II (Exp II, n=15) was applied from post-injury day(PD) 1 to PD 14 after sciatic nerve injury using low frequency stimulator that gave electrical stimulation(15min/60Hz). In order observe the effect of EA and TENS, this study examined GAP-43 expression in rat lumbar spinal cord at the PD 1, PD 7 and PD 14. In addition, the stride length(SL) and toe out angle(TOA) were measured at the PD 7 and PD 4. Results; Exp I and Exp II had higher GAP-43 immunoreactivity than control group(PD 1, 7, 14). The SL of Exp I and Exp II were significantly higher than control group(PD 7, 14). The TOA of Exp I and Exp II were significantly lower than control group(PD 7, 14). Conclusion: EA and TENS application increased motor nerve recovery and expression of GAP-43 immunoreactivity after sciatic nerve crush injury. Therefore effect of TENS and EA had similar effect on nerve regeneration and functional recovery.