journal article·2021-04-11Open access

Efficacy of TENS in Cervical Pain Syndromes: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews

Teresa Paolucci, Francesco Agostini, Marco Paoloni, Alessandro de Sire, Simone Verna, Mirko Pesce, Luca Ribecco, Massimiliano Mangone, Andrea Bernetti, Raoul Saggini

Applied Sciences· Volume 11· Issue 8

Abstract

Neck pain is defined as perceived pain, originating in an area bounded above by the nuchal line, below by an imaginary line passing through the spinous process of T1 and laterally by the sagittal plane tangent to the lateral edges of the neck. Our purpose is to investigate the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in patients suffering from both acute and chronic cervical pain syndromes. The literature research was conducted by consulting the following databases: PubMed, PEDro, Cochrane, and Google Scholar. To formulate the scientific question correctly, the PICO model was used. This umbrella review includes all systematic reviews with or without meta-analysis, in English, which analyze the use of TENS in subjects suffering from acute or chronic cervical pain. To evaluate the methodological quality of the studies, the AMSTAR model. A total of eleven systematic reviews with or without meta-analyses were included. The results of the study show how TENS seems to have an effect in reducing the intensity of acute and chronic cervical pain, especially in the short term. However, it was not possible to provide precise recommendations in this regard. Based on our result, it is desirable to carry out further studies that support the effectiveness of using TENS in patients suffering from acute and chronic neck pain.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Myofascial pain diagnosis and treatment · Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation · Peripheral Nerve Disorders

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, G. D’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy

Department of Anatomical and Histological Sciences, Legal Medicine and Orthopedics, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy

Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Catanzaro “Magna Graecia”, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy

Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, G. D’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy

School in Physiotherapy, G. D’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy

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