Summary

Objectives

To compare the efficacy of combined transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation (TAES) and electromagnetic millimeter wave (EMMW) therapy as an add-on treatment for pain relief and physical functional activity enhancement among adults with sub-acute non-specific spinal pain in either the low back or neck.

Design

A non-blinded study with data obtained before, immediate, one week and three months after intervention.

Setting

The Telehealth Clinic and Community Centre, Hong Kong.

Participants

Forty-seven subjects with either sub-acute neck or low back pain.

Intervention

Subjects were randomly allocated to either an intervention group (n=23) or a control group (n=24). These groups were then divided into subgroups according to the site of their spinal pain—neck or back. The intervention group had eight treatments over a three-week period of TAES and EMMW.

Outcome measures

Changes from baseline to the end of treatment were assessed at intervals of one week and three months on either neck or low back pain intensity [by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)]; stiffness level; stress level; neck or low back lateral flexion and forward flexion in cm, and interference with daily activities.

Results

The baseline VAS scores for the intervention and control groups were 5.34 and 5.18 out of 10, respectively (P value=0.77). At the one week and three month assessments, there were no significant differences between the groups—VAS (P value=0.09 and 0.27, respectively). A further subgroup of chronic pain sufferers (n=31) was identified and these had significantly reduced pain intensity at the one week assessment (P value=0.04) but this was not sustained at post three months after treatment (P value=0.15). Improvements in stiffness level, stress level, and functional disability level in the intervention group were not significant.

Conclusions

Our study shows that there was a reduction in pain intensity, stress and stiffness level immediately after the eight sessions of treatment (TAES and EMMW), though the effect is not sustained after a week. No pain relief was found with the neck pain subgroup. However, the reduction in subjective average pain intensity among the chronic pain subgroup was sustained at the post one week assessment for the intervention group but not at the post three month assessment.

Keywords: Electromagnetic millimetre waves; Low back pain; Neck pain; Pain relief; Transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation

Article Outline

Introduction

Methods

Study design and participants

Data collection procedures

Outcome measures

Primary outcome measure

Secondary outcome measures

Data analysis

Results

Enrolment, group allocation and follow-up

Subject characteristics

VAS determination of pain relief at the post-one week follow-up

Secondary outcomes

Participants’ satisfaction with TAES and EMMW therapy

Discussion

Conclusion

Acknowledgements

References