Lauretti Gabriela R, Oliveira Raquel, Parada Flavia, Mattos Anita L
Department of Biomechanics, Medicine and Rehabilitation of Locomotor Members of the School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
Neuromodulation. 2015 Aug;18(6):522-6; discussion 522-7. doi: 10.1111/ner.12269. Epub 2015 Feb 5.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is an established method for pain relief in dysmenorrhea. A feasible advantage would be the study of a portable device. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a new portable TENS device (TANYX®) for menstruation cramps.
Forty women were evaluated in a double-blind, prospective, randomized fashion, divided into sham and active groups. TENS was applied medially at the suprapubic region, for 30-min duration at eight-hour intervals, up to seven days. The placebo group (PG) received sham device. The TENS group (TG) applied an active 85 Hz frequency TENS. Efficacy measures were pain relief evaluated on a visual analog scale (VAS) and diclofenac intake, and quality of life represented by: 1) capacity to get out of the bed, 2) food or drink intake, 3) missing routine daily activities such as work or school, and 4) quality of sleep.
The active TENS device induced a prompt onset of pain relief in a strictly segmental manner nearby the dermatomes where the TENS was applied at the skin, and there was a drop in mean pain score from 8 to 2 cm (p < 0.001). Diclofenac consumption was also significantly reduced (p < 0.01), compared with the PG. Quality of life improved significantly in TG when compared with PG (p < 0.05). Three months after the beginning of the study, 14/20 of the women were still using the active device regularly. No adverse effects were observed.
The portable, disposable, active TENS device induced a prompt onset of pain relief and improved the quality of life, without adverse effects, in patients with painful cramps associated with dysmenorrhea.
经皮电刺激神经疗法（TENS）是一种已确立的缓解痛经的方法。研究一种便携式设备将具有可行的优势。本研究的目的是评估一种新型便携式TENS设备（TANYX®）治疗月经痉挛的有效性和安全性。
40名女性以双盲、前瞻性、随机方式进行评估，分为假治疗组和治疗组。TENS应用于耻骨上区域内侧，每次持续30分钟，间隔8小时，持续7天。安慰剂组（PG）使用假设备。TENS组（TG）应用85Hz频率的有源TENS。疗效指标包括通过视觉模拟量表（VAS）评估的疼痛缓解情况和双氯芬酸的摄入量，以及生活质量，具体表现为：1）起床能力，2）食物或饮料摄入量，3）错过工作或上学等日常常规活动，4）睡眠质量。
有源TENS设备在TENS应用于皮肤的皮节附近以严格的节段性方式迅速缓解疼痛，平均疼痛评分从8厘米降至2厘米（p<0.001）。与PG相比，双氯芬酸的消耗量也显著降低（p<0.01）。与PG相比，TG的生活质量有显著改善（p<0.05）。研究开始三个月后，20名女性中有14名仍在定期使用有源设备。未观察到不良反应。
对于与痛经相关的疼痛性痉挛患者，这种便携式、一次性有源TENS设备能迅速缓解疼痛并改善生活质量，且无不良反应。
