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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04645095

Which Type of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation is More Effective in Myofascial Pain Syndrome?

The aim of this project is to compare the effects of conventional, burst and modulated TENS primarily on pain level, number of trigger points, pressure pain threshold, neck joint range of motion and disability in MAS treatment.

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Key information

Conditions

Myofascial Pain Syndromes Muscular Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Birkan Sonel Tur

Ankara, 06100, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

Myofascial pain syndrome (MAS) is a regional pain syndrome characterized by trigger points detected by one or several muscle groups and reflected pain manifestation caused by palpation of these points. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a physical therapy modality that provides an analgesic effect by delivering a controlled low voltage electrical current to the nervous system through electrodes placed on the skin. Knowledge on how modulation parameters such as frequency, wave width and form alter TENS activity are limited.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Having a diagnosis of myofascial pain syndrome according to the criteria defined by Travell and Simons

Exclusion criteria

  • The onset of symptoms is less than 3 months
  • Severe cervical disc hernia, radiculopathy or myelopathy
  • Stage 3-4 cervical degeneration
  • Tumoral, infectious, psychiatric, neurological, uncontrolled systemic disease
  • Cardiac pacemaker
  • Diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome
  • Kyphoscoliosis
  • Acute trauma history
  • Having had previous brain or shoulder surgery
  • Injections for MAS and / or physiotherapy programs in the last 3 months
  • Pregnancy

Treatment and study plan

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

Device

All groups were administered hotpack for 20 minutes, different types of TENS therapy for 20 minutes, 5 days a week, total of 15 sessions.

Other names: TENS

Hot pack

Device

All groups were administered hotpack for 20 minutes, different types of TENS therapy for 20 minutes, 5 days a week, total of 15 sessions.

Primary outcomes

  1. Pain intensity

    Time frame: Measurements will be made before treatment, at the 1st week after treatment and at the 1st month after treatment.

    using Visual Analog Scale score; (0-10); 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates worst imaginable pain

  2. Number of trigger points in the upper back region

    Time frame: Measurements will be made before treatment, at the 1st week after treatment and at the 1st month after treatment.

    using number

  3. Pressure pain

    Time frame: Measurements will be made before treatment, at the 1st week after treatment and at the 1st month after treatment.

    using algometer (kg/cm2)

  4. Neck joint range of motion

    Time frame: Measurements will be made before treatment, at the 1st week after treatment and at the 1st month after treatment.

    using double inclinometer

  5. Disability

    Time frame: Measurements will be made before treatment, at the 1st week after treatment and at the 1st month after treatment.

    using Modified Neck Disability Index

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Ankara University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Which Type of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation is More Effective in Myofascial Pain Syndrome? A Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2017
Primary completion
2019
Study completion
2020
First posted
Nov 27, 2020
Registry last updated
Nov 27, 2020

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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