Comparison of the Additional Effects of Using TENS and Interferential Currents for the Treatment of Individuals With Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain.

Summary

In the current clinical and scientific reality, conservative treatment is the most coherent clinical management with a view to the proper rehabilitation of patients with chronic neck pain, with a trend towards the use of therapeutic exercise. However, some uncertainty about the effectiveness of therapeutic exercises still remains, requiring further studies with high methodological rigor, especially with regard to multimodal treatment, such as the combination of therapeutic exercises with photobiomodulation. Thus, the objective of this project is to evaluate the effects of adding photobiomodulation to a program of specific therapeutic exercises for the treatment of individuals with chronic non-specific neck pain. To this end, 60 participants will be randomized into three groups: therapeutic exercise group + photobiomodulation (n = 20), and therapeutic exercise group. There will be 8 treatment sessions and participants will be evaluated before, after the 8 sessions, and 4 weeks after the end of treatment using the Numerical Pain Scale, Neck Disability Index, Catastrophic Thoughts about Pain Scale, and Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale. In the statistical analysis, a linear mixed model will be applied, considering the interaction between the time and group factors. Finally, the addition of photobiomodulation to a therapeutic exercise program is expected to generate clinical improvements for patients with chronic neck pain.

Conditions

• Neck Pain
• Chronic Pain

Interventions

OTHER

Therapeutic exercise

1.Movements of flexion, extension, inclinations, and rotations of the cervical region at maximum amplitude and without load. 2.Neural mobilization of the cervical nerve roots. 3.Contraction of the deep muscles of the flexors, extensors, and rotators of the cervical region without performing spinal movements, using the movement of the eyes to aid in the accomplishment of these exercises. 4.Isometric contraction of the flexor muscles, inclinators, and rotators against manual resistance of the physiotherapist. 5.Isometric contraction of the cervical extensors of the cervical region against gravity. 6.Contraction of the flexor muscles, extensors, and incliners of the cervical region against the resistance of elastic bands.

OTHER

Therapeutic exercise group + high frequency TENS

TENS (Endophasys® - NMS-0501, KLD Biosistemas® Equipamentos Eletrônicos Ltda) will be applied to the cervical region through 4 silicon-carbon electrodes measuring 4 x 4 cm, with a water-based gel to reduce the impedance at the interface electrode skin. Thus, TENS will be applied with a rectangular, biphasic, and symmetrical pulse, with a pulse width of 100 µm, and a frequency of 100 Hz, at the maximum tolerated sensitive threshold, for 30 minutes (VANCE et al., 2012).

OTHER

Therapeutic exercise group + Interferential

In sequence, the interferential current will be applied. Through the Endophasys® device - NMS-0501, KLD Biosistemas® Equipamentos Eletrônicos Ltda). Four electrodes (8x5 cm), two upper and two lower (forming a square) will be positioned around the center of the neck. The electrodes will be positioned crosswise, following the parameters: 4KHz (carrier frequency), 1/1 second (Sweep Mode), 60 Hz Amplitude of frequency modulation (AMF), 30 Hz (Delta AMF), automatic vector mode, with intensity at the motor threshold of sensation, lasting 30 minutes (Albornoz-Cabello et al., 2019).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Nove de Julho

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Cid Gomes, Phd · University of Nove de Julho

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

60 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-07-30

Primary Completion

2025-04-20

Completion

2025-04-20

Countries

• Brazil

Study Locations