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Low-Frequency TENS in Women With Behavioral Dysphonia: Preliminary Data From a Randomized Clinical Trial
Larissa Thaís Donalonso Siqueira1, Ana Paula Dos Santos2, Jhonatan da Silva Vitor2
1Audiology Department at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
Purpose:
To verify the effectiveness of low-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) simultaneously applied to the performance of vocal exercises in women with behavioral dysphonia.
Methods:
This is a randomized, blinded clinical trial (Register Number: RBR-5k95vs). Twelve adult women with vocal nodules, randomly divided into three groups (G1: 4 participants - 12 sessions - application of placebo TENS simultaneously to the execution of vocal exercises; G2: 5 participants - 12 sessions - application of low-frequency TENS (frequency at 10 Hz, 200 μs duration phase, motor threshold, with electrodes placed on the thyroid cartilage lamina, bilaterally); and G3: 3 participants - 12 sessions - application of low-frequency TENS (same condition as G2) simultaneously to the execution of vocal exercises), participated in this study. The therapies were performed for 30 minutes in each session, twice a week. The participants were evaluated regarding vocal quality through acoustic voice analysis (fundamental frequency, Cesptral Peak Prominence-Smoothed (CPPs), alpha ratio, L1-L0, Acoustic Breathiness Index (ABI), and Acoustic Vocal Quality Index (AVQI)), vocal economy through electroglottography, and vocal self-assessment using the Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL) protocol. Assessments were performed before and immediately after voice therapy. Data were analyzed using the two-way repeated-measures ANOVA (variance analysis) test to compare assessment times and intervention groups.
Results:
It was observed that G2 presented a reduction in the ABI acoustic parameter after the intervention and an increase in the values of the CPPs and L1-L0 parameter and in the scores of the physical and total V-RQOL domains. There were no differences for the other outcomes in relation to time and group.
Conclusion:
Preliminary results indicate that low-frequency TENS applied alone can reduce ABI parameter values and improve voice-related quality of life in dysphonic women.
