Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation improves low back pain during pregnancy

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Pain Management
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Pregnancy-related low back pain (LBP) is a common and debilitating condition affecting women in the third trimester.
• Limited effective and safe treatment options exist for LBP during pregnancy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) with exercise and acetaminophen for treating LBP in pregnant women.
• To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of TENS for pregnancy-related LBP.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 79 pregnant women (≥32 weeks gestation) with LBP (VAS ≥5).
• Participants were randomly assigned to a control group, exercise group, acetaminophen group, or TENS group.
• Pain intensity (VAS) and functional disability (RMDQ) were assessed before and 3 weeks after treatment.

Main Results:

• TENS and acetaminophen treatments resulted in pain reduction in all participants, while exercise showed a 95% pain reduction.
• Post-treatment VAS and RMDQ scores were significantly lower in all treatment groups compared to the control.
• TENS demonstrated significantly greater pain relief than both exercise and acetaminophen (p < 0.001).
• No adverse effects were reported with TENS application during the study period.

Conclusions:

• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a safe and effective treatment for low back pain during pregnancy.
• TENS offers superior pain relief for pregnancy-related LBP compared to exercise and acetaminophen.