The Use of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for Chronic Pain of Predominantly Peripheral Neuropathic Origin

NCT ID: NCT00716326

Last Updated: 2008-12-18

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

115 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2007-01-31

Study Completion Date

2008-12-31

Brief Summary

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The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of TENS in addition to routine care in patients with chronic pain of predominantly neuropathic origin, compared to treatment with routine care alone."

Hypothesis:

An eventually neuropathic pain component is needed to be identified and alleviated in chronic pain patients to improve the quality of rehabilitation.

0-hypothesis:

* TENS is not better than than placebo, medication or standard rehabilitation program.
* A neuropathic pain component does not demand special considerations in rehabilitation of chronic pain patients.

Detailed Description

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Setting:

Skogli helse- og rehabiliteringssenter, Lillehammer, Norway. Center of Rehabilitation for chronic pain patients, rheumatic diseases and orthopedic postoperative patients.

Duration:

Until 18 months of intervention + 6 months of follow up and preparation.

Intervention:

Use of TENS during 3-4 weeks of hospitalization connected to multimodal rehabilitation (short-term efficacy). TENS or placebo-TENS is added to routine care.

Follow-up:

If patients want to continue the use of TENS/placebo-TENS at home, they will be offered to borrow equipment for 4 months. Questionnaires will be send at 2 and 4 months, both for the active group, the placebo group and for the group of patients who discontinued the use of TENS/placebo-TENS (long-term efficacy).

Conditions

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Neuropathic Pain

Keywords

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Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Chronic pain Neuropathic pain Short-term efficacy Long-term efficacy

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

Study Groups

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1

Subjects in this study arm will receive active treatment with Cefar TENS device which delivers therapeutic electrical currents 2-3x over sensory threshold in the area of pain.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation (TENS)

Intervention Type DEVICE

Patients will be randomly allocated to a group with active-TENS and exercises, or to a group with placebo-TENS and exercises. The TENS will be used during 3-4 weeks of hospitalization. If patients want to continue the use of TENS/placebo-TENS at home, they will be offered to borrow equipment for 4 months.

Cefar Primo Pro TENS device

Intervention Type DEVICE

Patients will be randomly allocated to a group with active-TENS and exercises, or to a group with placebo-TENS and exercises.

Active TENS: high-frequency modulated pulse duration stimulation Placebo TENS: manipulated device with impulses near sensory threshold.

2

Subjects in this study arm will receive placebo treatment with manipulated Cefar TENS device which delivers electrical currents just below sensory threshold in the area of pain.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Cefar Primo Pro TENS device

Intervention Type DEVICE

Patients will be randomly allocated to a group with active-TENS and exercises, or to a group with placebo-TENS and exercises.

Active TENS: high-frequency modulated pulse duration stimulation Placebo TENS: manipulated device with impulses near sensory threshold.

Interventions

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Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation (TENS)

Patients will be randomly allocated to a group with active-TENS and exercises, or to a group with placebo-TENS and exercises. The TENS will be used during 3-4 weeks of hospitalization. If patients want to continue the use of TENS/placebo-TENS at home, they will be offered to borrow equipment for 4 months.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Cefar Primo Pro TENS device

Patients will be randomly allocated to a group with active-TENS and exercises, or to a group with placebo-TENS and exercises.

Active TENS: high-frequency modulated pulse duration stimulation Placebo TENS: manipulated device with impulses near sensory threshold.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Adult patients with chronic pain of predominantly neuropathic origin

Exclusion Criteria

* Pain less than 3 months
* Surgery or lesion within 3 months
* Central neuropathic pain
* Fibromyalgia
* Primary headaches
* Primary psychiatric diagnosis
* Patients with pacemaker
* Formerly treated with TENS
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

80 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Norwegian Fund for Postgraduate Training in Physiotherapy

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Principal Investigators

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Jan M Bjordal, professor

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

University of Bergen

Locations

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Skogli helse- og rehabiliteringssenter

Lillehammer, Lillehammer, Norway

Site Status

Countries

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Norway

Other Identifiers

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15602 (NSD)

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: secondary_id

408/06-301.0 (Fondet)

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: secondary_id

8589 (REK)

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id