Improvement of Somatic Cervical Pain and Disability after the Application of a Portable TENS Device

Abstract

Background: Cervical facet joints and neck muscles are common nociceptive pain generator, with neck and shoulder muscles pain, and limited retroflexion. Objective: To test the hypothesis that the portable TENS device would relieve cervical somatic pain. Methods: Forty-four patients with chronic cervical pain patients with somatic pain, but without radicular symptoms were evaluated in a double-blind, prospective, randomized fashion, divided into sham and active groups. The active TENS (TANYXò) or sham device was placed over C7-T1 spinous process, perpendicular to the spine, for 20 min at 12-hour interval during 3 days. The two groups were: placebo group (PG), with a sham device and the active TENS group (TG), which produced a mixed (85 Hz) frequency of stimulation, conventional, and burst. Diclofenac up to three times daily was available. Efficacy measures were pain relief, rescue analgesics and neck disability. Results: The active TENS device induced pain relief after its first application, which persisted during the 3-day treatment. By the end of the TENS application, the capability of rotation, lateral extension and retroflexion was improved (p < 0.05). The pain score and rescue analgesics consumption reduced in the TG (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, respectively), and the mean pain score dropped from 8 to 3 points (p < 0.01). There were no adverse events. Conclusions: Somatic cervical pain and disability improved after active TENS application during the three consecutive days, which persisted upon the 1-month reevaluation.