EFFECTS OF TRANSCUTANEOUS DYNAMIC ELECTRICAL NERVE STIMULATION IN LOW BACK PAIN

Akhmadeeva L. Effectiveness of transcutaneous dynamic electrical nerve stimulation in low back pain: a pilot randomized controlled trail / L. Akhmadeeva, N. Setchenkova, R. Magzhanov. - 19th World Congress of Neurology, Bangkok. Poster Abstracts / Journal of the neurological Sciences 285 S1 (2009) -S320.

EFFECTIVENESS OF TRANSCUTANEOUS DYNAMIC ELECTRICAL NERVE STIMULATION IN LOW BACK PAIN: A PILOT RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

L. Akhmadeeva. N. Setchenkova, R. Magzhanov
Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa, Russian Federation

Purpose: To evaluate effectiveness and safety of transcutaneous dynamic electrical nerve stimulation (DENS) in patients with nonspecific low back pain (LBP) in the first pilot single-blind randomized controlled clinical trial.

Method: In-patients of neurology and internal medicine wards of the University hospital were screened for LBR The pain was measures using visual analogues scale (VAS) daily. Beck depression inventory and Oswestry low back pain scale were added for evaluating the dynamics of rehabilitation. Totally 1596 patients got questionnaires, 281 (17.6%) reported LBR 59 fulfilled inclusion criteria, 42 consented to participate in this study. They were randomized into 2 groups using computer software: 21 patients got DENS as an adjunct to the standard protocols for management of pain, 21 patients got the same procedures with shams device.

Groups were similar: mean age - 48.4 vs. 45.7 years, the initial levels of pain -53.7 vs. 54.3 out of 100. Electrodes were placed to the zone of most intensive pain. The procedures were given daily for 10 days. Each session included the following regimes: 77 Hz - 5min, 20 Hz - 5min, and 77-10 Hz - lOmin. Supported by a grant from the President of Russia MD1195.2008.7 and a grant from DENAS MC Corporation #189.

Results: Side effects were not registered. Difference (p = 0.048) in pain reduction was observed on the 10th day: DENS group showed better results. More rapid VAS lowering was noted between days 6 and 7 in DENS group. Oswestry scale results were also better for DENS group (p = 0.047). Significant decrease of depression (p = 0.003) was registered in DENS group, but not in placebo group (p-0.53).

Conclusion: DENS could be one of the safe modalities for reducing of LBP. More studies are needed to find the best regimes and compare DENS with other existing modalities.