Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and Pain With Movement in People With Fibromyalgia

Is transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) effective for treating pain when combined with physical therapy (PT) in individuals with fibromyalgia?This cluster randomized clinical trial of 459 participants with fibromyalgia from 28 PT clinics from 6 health systems found that adding TENS to routine PT resulted in a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction of movement-evoked pain at 2 months, with effectiveness sustained for at least 6 months.This study’s findings suggest that TENS is a safe and effective modality for managing fibromyalgia pain.

Corresponding Author: Kathleen A. Sluka, PT, PhD, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, Pain Research Program, Carver College of Medicine, 500 Newton Rd, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242 (kathleen-sluka@uiowa.edu).

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