ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is considered a current that should not be applied in pregnant women to avoid adverse effects. This systematic review aimed to analyze the scientific evidence about the use of TENS during pregnancy.
CONTENTS:
This study was conducted on November 2019 by searching the electronic databases: Pubmed, Scielo, LILACS, Science Direct, Cochrane Library and PEDro. The following descriptors were used: "transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation" combined with "pregnancy". Only randomized clinical trials that investigated the use of TENS during pregnancy were selected. Methodological quality was assessed by using the Cochrane Collaboration Tool (RevMan 5.3 software). Studies were classified according to the risk of bias (low, high or unclear). From 691 eligible publications, only two randomized clinical trials were selected according to inclusion criteria. Low risk of bias was detected in most items in one study and high risk for performance, detection and reporting bias were evidenced in the other study. Other bias (TENS intensity control by patient) was considered unclear in both studies.
CONCLUSION:
There is not enough support that TENS neither reduces pain intensity nor causes adverse effects in pregnant patients.
Keywords:
Analgesia; Pregnancy; Pregnant; Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation
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