Transcutaneous electrical stimulation in neck pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Author(s)

Rampazo, Erika Patricia ^[1] ; Santi Martignago, Cintia Cristina ^[1] ; de Noronha, Marcos ^[2] ; Liebano, Richard Eloin ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Fed Univ Sao Carlos UFSCar, Dept Phys Therapy, Physiotherapeut Resources Lab, Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] La Trobe Univ, La Trobe Rural Hlth Sch, Rural Dept Allied Hlth, Bendigo - Australia

• Document type: Review article
• Source: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PAIN; v. 26, n. 1 AUG 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Background and objective The objective of this systematic review was to investigate the effectiveness of electrical stimulation (ES) for neck pain (NP). Databases and data treatment The databases CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE (via OVID), PEDro and Web of Science were searched, with no date restrictions. Two independent reviewers selected randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting pain, range of motion or psychosocial factors in people with NP, in which ES was applied. Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to evaluate the quality of evidence. Thirty studies met eligibility criteria. Results Main results showed evidence of moderate quality that ES combined with other intervention significantly decreases the pain intensity compared to other intervention immediately post-treatment and at short-term follow-up; evidence of low quality showed significant effects of ES combined with other intervention in decreasing neck disability compared to other intervention immediately post-treatment; evidence of very-low quality that ES increased the pressure pain threshold compared to placebo immediately post-treatment and that ES + other intervention also increased the pressure pain threshold compared to other intervention at short-term follow-up. Conclusions ES combined with other intervention seems to be useful to relieve pain and to improve disability in people with NP, however, more studies are needed. Significance Electrical stimulation seems to be effective for improving pain intensity, immediately post-treatment in people with neck pain, mainly as an adjunct therapeutic modality. Nevertheless, high-quality RCTs are still needed to investigate the efficacy of electrical stimulation in neck pain. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/26447-2 - Clinical evaluation and efficacy of photobiomodulation and transcutaneous electrical nervous stimulation in non specific chronic neck pain individuals
• Grantee: Érika Patrícia Rampazo da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate