Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
Cuypers K, Levin O, Thijs H, et al. Long-term TENS treatment improves tactile sensitivity in MS patients. Neurorehab Neural Rep 2010; 24(5):420-427.
Investigated the long-term effects of sensory stimulation by means of TENS on hand sensitivity in people with MS. Methods. The findings demonstrated lasting improvements in tactile sensitivity of the fingers as a result of a long-term TENS intervention in MS patients, who ultimately reached a level comparable with that of healthy subjects.
Chitsaz A, Janghorbani M, Shaygannejad V, et al. Sensory complaints of the upper extremities in multiple sclerosis: relative efficacy of nortriptyline and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Clin J Pain 2009; 25 (4): 281-285.
Evaluated the relative efficacy of nortriptyline and self-applied transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in the treatment of pain and/or sensory complaints of the upper extremities. 59 people with MS aged 15 to 50 years were randomly allocated to receive an 8- week treatment course of either nortriptyline (10mg daily increment over 1 week to 50 mg) or self-applied TENS. Findings suggest TENS may have some benefits over nortriptyline.
Miller L, Mattison P, Paul L, et al. The effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on spasticity in multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler 2007; 13(4): 527-33
32 people with MS and spasticity were randomised to two groups , comparing two weeks of 60 minutes and 8 hours daily of TENS applications. No statistically significant effect was seen on spasticity but the 8 hour application time led to a significant improvement in muscle spasm and pain.
Warke K, Al-Smadi J, Baxter D, et al Efficacy of Transcutaneous Electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for chronic low-back pain in a multiple sclerosis population: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Clin J Pain 2006; 22(9):812-819.
90 people with MS were randomised to one of low-frequency TENS, high frequency TENS and placebo TENS. TENS was applied at least twice daily for 45 minutes at a time, over 6 weeks. No statistically significant effects were found on a range of outcome measures, however, clinically important differences were observed in some of the outcome measures in both active treatment groups during treatment and follow-up, which may have implications for clinical management of these patients.
Al-Smadi J, Warke K, Wilson I, Cramp AG, Noble G, Walsh DM, Lowe-Strong A. A pilot investigation of the hypoalgesic effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation upon low back pain in people with multiple sclerosis. Clin Rehabil 2003; 17(7):742-9.
15 people with MS were randomly assigned to either a low-setting of TENS, a high setting of TENS or placebo TENS as a treatment for low back pain, over a 6 week treatment period with 4 weeks follow-up. No statistically significant results were found in any group, though a trend towards improvement was shown in both active treatment groups.
Armutlu K, Meric A, Kirdi N, Yakut E, Karabudak R. The effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients: a pilot study. Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2003; 17(2):79-82.
10 people with MS were given TENS over 4 weeks. At the end of treatment, their spasticity showed statistically significant improvement on some outcome measures, although no significant different was made to walking ability.