Effects of Wearable Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Pain Management
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition causing widespread pain and impacting daily life.
• Effective management strategies for fibromyalgia remain a significant clinical challenge.
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is explored as a non-pharmacological intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of wearable TENS devices in managing fibromyalgia symptoms.
• To determine if pain sensitivity influences TENS treatment outcomes in fibromyalgia patients.

Main Methods:

• A double-blind, randomized trial compared active TENS to a sham device over 3 months in 119 fibromyalgia patients.
• Participants were categorized by pain sensitivity using Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST).
• Outcomes included Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC), Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR), Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), and painDETECT (PDQ).

Main Results:

• Overall, no significant difference in PGIC was observed between active and sham TENS.
• However, individuals with higher pain sensitivity showed significantly greater improvements in PGIC with active TENS.
• Active TENS also led to significant improvements in FIQR, BPI, and PDQ scores, especially in the higher pain sensitivity subgroup.

Conclusions:

• Wearable TENS demonstrates modest efficacy in reducing disease impact, pain, and functional impairment in fibromyalgia.
• Patients with higher pain sensitivity appear to benefit more from TENS treatment.
• Wearable TENS presents a potentially safe and effective treatment option for fibromyalgia management.