Key Takeaway
TENS provides moderate pain relief for chronic musculoskeletal pain with minimal side effects, though evidence quality varies across conditions.
Summary
This Cochrane overview analyzed multiple systematic reviews examining TENS for chronic pain conditions including fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, low back pain, and neuropathic pain.
Key findings:
- Moderate evidence supporting TENS for chronic musculoskeletal pain
- Effect sizes comparable to oral analgesics in some studies
- Minimal adverse effects reported
- Benefits most consistent when used alongside exercise
Clinical outcomes:
- Pain reduction: 20-40% improvement in most studies
- Function: Modest improvements in physical function
- Medication use: Some studies showed reduced analgesic requirements
Limitations noted:
- Heterogeneous protocols across studies
- Difficulty with adequate blinding
- Optimal parameters (frequency, intensity) remain unclear
Clinical significance:
Supports TENS as a safe, non-pharmacological option for chronic pain management, particularly when combined with active interventions.