Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in rheumatoid arthritis

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Neurology
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease causing joint inflammation and pain.
• Wrist involvement is common in RA, impacting daily function and quality of life.
• Non-pharmacological interventions like TENS are explored for RA symptom management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of weekly transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) versus placebo in managing rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.
• To assess TENS' impact on pain at rest and during gripping activities.
• To measure changes in grip strength following TENS treatment.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, double-blind, non-crossover study design was employed.
• Thirty-two patients with classic or definite rheumatoid arthritis and wrist involvement participated.
• Intervention involved once-weekly TENS for three weeks, compared against a placebo.

Main Results:

• TENS demonstrated superior pain relief compared to placebo, both at rest and during gripping.
• Immediate improvements in grip strength (power and work done) were observed post-TENS.
• Grip strength benefits from TENS were transient, returning to baseline between assessments.
• The placebo group showed no significant improvements in pain or grip strength.

Conclusions:

• Once-weekly TENS is an effective adjunctive therapy for pain reduction in rheumatoid arthritis patients with wrist involvement.
• While TENS offers temporary enhancement of grip strength, its sustained effect requires further investigation.
• TENS presents a viable, non-invasive option for managing rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, particularly pain.