Abstract
Objective
To determine the immediate effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
(TENS) on heart rate, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure
(DBP) in apparently healthy adults (age ≥18y).
Data Sources
The Cochrane Library (online version 2014), PubMed (1962–2014), EMBASE (1980–2014),
and LILACS (1980–2014) electronic databases were searched.
Study Selection
Randomized controlled trials were included when TENS was administered noninvasively
with surface electrodes during rest, and the effect of TENS was compared with that
of control or placebo TENS. A sensitive search strategy for identifying randomized
controlled trials was used by 2 independent reviewers. The initial search led to the
identification of 432 studies, of which 5 articles met the eligibility criteria.
Data Extraction
Two independent reviewers extracted data from the selected studies. Quality was evaluated
using the PEDro scale. Mean differences or standardized mean differences in outcomes
were calculated.
Data Synthesis
Five eligible articles involved a total of 142 apparently healthy individuals. Four
studies used high-frequency TENS and 3 used low-frequency TENS and evaluated the effect
on SBP. Three studies using high-frequency TENS and 2 using low-frequency TENS evaluated
the effect on DBP. Three studies using high-frequency TENS and 1 study using low-frequency
TENS evaluated the effect on heart rate. A statistically significant reduction in
SBP (−3.00mmHg; 95% confidence interval [CI], −5.02 to −0.98; P=.004) was found using low-frequency TENS. A statistically significant reduction in
DBP (−1.04mmHg; 95% CI, −2.77 to −0.03; I2=61%; P=.04) and in heart rate (−2.55beats/min; 95% CI, −4.31 to −0.78; I2=86%; P=.005]) was found using both frequencies. The median value on the PEDro scale was
7 (range, 4–8).
Conclusions
TENS seems to promote a discrete reduction in SBP, DBP, and heart rate in apparently
healthy individuals.
Keywords
List of abbreviations:
CI (confidence interval), DBP (diastolic blood pressure), RCT (randomized controlled trial), SBP (systolic blood pressure), TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 15, 2015
Footnotes
PROSPERO Registration No.: CRD42014013853.
Disclosures: none.
Identification
Copyright
© 2015 The American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine.
