Study of the effectiveness of interferential current as compared to transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in reducing chronic low back pain^*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Chronic low back pain has an incidence of 70% in general population and induces significant limitations. As treatment, physiotherapy stands out with a wide variety of techniques among them, for pain relief, electrotherapy is a useful tool. This study aimed at comparing the analgesic effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and interferential current in patients with chronic low back pain.

METHODS:

Randomized clinical trial carried out between August 2013 and May 2014 in the clinic school of physiotherapy, Ulbra-Torres, with chronic low back pain patients. Patients were divided in two groups: intervention group (IG) treated with interferential current and control group (CG) treated with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Visual analog scale, Oswestry Questionnaire and Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire were used for baseline evaluation. Patients were treated for five weeks, twice a week, in a total of 10 interventions. At the end, they were re-evaluated and one month after they were submitted to follow-up with the visual analog scale.

RESULTS:

Participated in the study 28 patients, being 14 in IG and 14 in CG. Sample was homogeneous intragroups for gender, age, color and mean pain duration. There has been significant pain improvement in both groups by the visual analog scale and functionality improvement by Oswestry and Roland Morris Disability Questionnaires when comparing baseline and final evaluations (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION:

There were positive results in chronic low back pain improvement both with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and interferential current, without significant difference between transcutaneous currents.

Low back pain; Physiotherapy; Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation