Abstract
Objective
This systematic and meta-analysis review evaluated the transcutaneous electrical nerve
stimulation (TENS)–induced action mechanisms for animal analgesia.
Materials and Methods
Two independent investigators identified relevant articles published until February
2021 through a literature review, and a random-effects meta-analysis was performed
to synthesize the results.
Results
Of the 6984 studies found in the data base search, 53 full-text articles were selected
and used in the systematic review. Most studies used Sprague Dawley rats (66.03%).
High-frequency TENS was applied to at least one group in 47 studies, and most applications
were performed for 20 minutes (64.15%). Mechanical hyperalgesia was analyzed as the
primary outcome in 52.83% of the studies and thermal hyperalgesia in 23.07% of studies
using a heated surface. More than 50% of the studies showed a low risk of bias on
allocation concealment, random housing, selective outcome reporting, and acclimatization
before the behavioral tests. Blinding was not performed in only one study and random
outcome assessment in another study; acclimatization before the behavioral tests was
not performed in just one study. Many studies had an uncertain risk of bias. Meta-analyses
indicated no difference between low-frequency and high-frequency TENS with variations
among the pain models.
Conclusions
This systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that TENS has presented a substantial
scientific foundation for its hypoalgesic effect in preclinical studies for analgesia.
Keywords
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Comment
Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 27, 2023
Accepted:
February 1,
2023
Received in revised form:
January 11,
2023
Received:
October 19,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofFootnotes
Source(s) of financial support: This work was supported by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior–Brasil.
Conflict of Interest: The authors reported no conflict of interest.
Identification
Copyright
© 2023 International Neuromodulation Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
