An investigation into the effects of modulated frequency and low frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in relief of pain following abdominal surgery– A randomized controlled trial

Purpose: This study intended to evaluate the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for the treatment of postoperative agony in patients who experienced stomach surgery. Methodology: A randomized study with 45 patients with a pain score > 3 on the visual analogue scale (VAS) were haphazardly allocated in three groups to receive modulated TENS, low TENS and placebo TENS 20 minutes for every session for 5 days postoperatively. Every day the patients got treatment 4 and 8 hourly. Pain was evaluated using a standard 11 point VAS before the application of TENS and followed by 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 post operative hours. Results: Modulated TENS group when compared with low TENS group shows that both the groups are equally effective in reducing pain (p=0.836). Whereas when modulated TENS and low TENS groups were compared to the placebo TENS group it was found that both the groups had a noteworthy lessening in postoperative pain (p=0.01). Conclusions: This study uncovered that modulated TENS as well as low TENS are a significant method of treatment to mitigate postoperative torment.