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NCT Number: NCT07334938

Effects of Far Infrared Rays and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Short Term Prognosis of Head and Neck Cancer Patients Receiving Curative Treatment

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine whether far-infrared therapy and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) can improve postoperative side effects in patients with head and neck cancer. The main questions this study aims to answer are:

Can far-infrared therapy and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation reduce pain and improve neck range of motion?

Can far-infrared therapy and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation reduce inflammation?

Researchers will compare three groups:

Group A: control group; Group B: transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation; Group C: far-infrared therapy combined with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, to evaluate differences in pain, neck range of motion, and inflammation.

Participants will receive the assigned intervention in the morning and evening for five consecutive days. Outcome measurements will be conducted on the first and fifth days.

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

Key information

Conditions

Head and Neck Cancer (H&N) Head and Neck Neoplasms Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site

Age range

30 year–85 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation

Hualien City, Hualien County, 97002, Taiwan

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients aged 30 to 85 years with a confirmed diagnosis of head and neck cancer.
  • Patients scheduled to undergo surgical resection.
  • Patients who are conscious, able to communicate verbally or in writing, and willing to complete questionnaires and comply with all study procedures.

Exclusion criteria

  • Presence of open wounds or skin lesions at the sites where transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation electrodes would be applied.
  • Contraindications to transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation, including a history of epilepsy, brain tumors, arteriovenous malformations, or implanted cardiac pacemakers or defibrillators, to avoid potential adverse effects of electrical stimulation.

Treatment and study plan

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)

Device

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is applied to the neck region twice daily, in the morning and evening, for five consecutive days.

Far-Infrared Therapy

Device

Far-infrared therapy is applied to the neck region twice daily, in the morning and evening, for five consecutive days.

Primary outcomes

  1. Pain intensity

    Time frame: Preoperative baseline (before surgery), postoperative day 10, and postoperative day 15

    Pain intensity will be assessed using a numeric rating scale (NRS), with scores ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Neck range of motion (ROM)

    Time frame: Preoperative baseline (before surgery), postoperative day 10, and postoperative day 15

    Active neck range of motion will be measured in degrees, including flexion, extension, bilateral rotation, and bilateral lateral flexion.

  2. Inflammatory markers (LMR, NLR)

    Time frame: Preoperative baseline (before surgery), postoperative day 10, and postoperative day 15

    Inflammatory markers will be calculated from complete blood counts, including the Lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio(LMR) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jan 12, 2026
Registry last updated
Jan 13, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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