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Updated: Sep 25, 2025
An Experimental Paradigm for the Prediction of Post-Operative Pain PPOP
Published on: January 27, 2010
Influence of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on pain intensity and functional activities following lower
Kiransha R Velingkar1, Preetha Ramachandra1, Muralidhar V Pai2
1Department of Physiotherapy, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India.
Background:
Postoperative incisional pain following lower segment cesarean section (LSCS) is one of the commonly reported complaints which may affect mother-infant bonding, and restrict mobility and functional activities.
Purpose:
To study the influence of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on pain intensity and functional activities using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and the Patient Specific Functional Scale (PSFS) following LSCS from the postoperative day (POD) 1 to POD 4.
Methods:
This quasi-experimental study consisted of 50 postpartum women who underwent LSCS and were assigned to an intervention group (IG) that received TENS and a control group (CG) that received routine hospital care.
Results:
NPRS scores between CG and IG (pre-TENS application) showed a statistically significant difference (ηp2 = 0.542, p < .001) from POD 1 to POD 4. Study participants showed an improvement in PSFS scores (ηp2 = 0.412, 0.488, 0.661, 0.304, 0.262, and 0.395, p < .001) in IG compared to CG for bed transitions, bed transfers, sitting, sit to stand, walking, and toileting activities respectively from POD 1 to POD 4 which was statistically significant.
Conclusions:
Our study results suggest that administration of TENS following LSCS shows an improvement in pain intensity and functional activities as reported on NPRS and PSFS respectively.
