No immediate analgesic effect of diadynamic current in patients with nonspecific low back pain in comparison to TENS

Publication date: Available online 15 November 2017
Source:Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies
Author(s): Bijan Forogh, Noureddin Nakhostin Ansari, Tannaz Ahadi, Ehsan Fallah, Safoora Ebadi
Backgroundand design:Chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP) has major socioeconomic as well as personal impact in many industrialized and developing countries. Physiotherapy is a common intervention for this group of patients and using anti-pain physical modalities is a common part of the physical therapy. In a randomized controlled trial we investigated the immediate effect of the Diadynamic current in comparison to TENS on reducing the pain in patients suffering from non-specific chronic low back pain.MethodsThirty patients were randomized into the Diadynamic current and TENS groups.Electrical stimulation was applied for 10 min in the Diadynamic group and for 15 min in the TENS group for one session. Pain, on a 100 mm Visual Analog Scale, and Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT), using an Algometer, was measured before the treatment, after the current application, 20 min later and after 48 h.ResultsPain was decreased significantly after 20 min following the current application only in the TENS group, with no improvement at all in measurement points in the group receiving Diadynamic current. PPT was increased immediately after current application in both groups but did not last until later measurements.ConclusionDiadynamic current had no positive effect on prompt relief of pain in patients suffering from recurrent CNSLBP.



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