EFFECTS OF TENS ASSOCIATED WITH CRYOTHERAPY IN NON-SPECIFIC CHRONIC LUMBAR PAIN: CLINICAL TRIAL, RANDOMIZED
analgesia; electrical stimulation; cryotherapy; lumbosacral region.
Introduction: Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) is a recurrent problem in the world population. The association between Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and Cryotherapy appears as an option in the treatment of painful symptoms caused by this dysfunction. Purpose: to evaluate the effects of Conventional and Burst TENS, associated or not with cryotherapy, on non-specific CLBP. Methods: this is a randomized clinical trial, where 120 volunteers with nonspecific CLBP were recruited. The subjects were submitted to pain intensity and pressure pain threshold evaluations on the lumbar region, in the paravertebral area, at L3 and L5 vertebrae levels. Then, they were randomly allocated to six groups (n = 20 each), with application of resources for 25 minutes: placebo TENS (PCB); Burst TENS (BT); Conventional TENS (CT); Cryotherapy (CRYO); Cryotherapy + Conventional TENS (CRYOCT); and Cryotherapy + TENS Burst (CRYOBT). The evaluations were repeated immediately and 25 minutes after the interventions. Results: the CRIOCT and CRIOBT groups showed a greater immediate reduction in the intensity of low back pain, compared to the other groups, and this effect was maintained only in the CRIOBT group, after 25 minutes (p <0.05). There was also an immediate increase in the pressure pain threshold (L3 and L5) in the BT, CRIOCT and CRIOBT groups, considering intergroup comparisons (p<0.05). After 25 minutes, similar results were found in the BT and CRIOBT groups, compared to the other groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: the association of Burst TENS with cryotherapy seemed to be more effective and lasting in reducing pain intensity and increasing the pain pressure threshold, in individuals with non-specific CLBP.