Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) on primary dysmenorrhea in adolescent girls

Main Article Content

Parisa Parsa
Saeed Bashirian

Abstract

Objectives: Dysmenorrhea is a common problem among female adolescents. The purpose of this study wasto examine the effect of high-frequency Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) on primary dysmenorrhea and to compare it with placebo in a randomized controlled study.

Methodology: Sixty four female aged between 14-18 years at the first day of their menstruation cyclerandomly divided in two groups (TENS or placebo TENS). Participants' physical characteristics and menstrualhistory were recorded. Menstrual pain was measured by self-reported pain intensity using visualanalog scale (VAS) before and just after treatment. Paired t-test and independent t-test was conducted tocompare pain intensity between pre and post treatment between the two groups (TENS vs. placebo).

Results: The decrease in pain intensity after TENS and placebo TENS were both significant, (Active group:6.31 to 2.40, t= 9.70, p<0.01; placebo group: 6.65 to 5.00, t= 5.97, p<0.01). However, pain intensity inactive TENS was significantly decreased than the placebo group (t=-4.690, p=0.000). Concurrent use ofanalgesic was reduced significantly in the active TENS (t= 5.475, p<0.01); but not after placebo TENS.

Conclusions: This result supports that using TENS could be effective in pain reduction among adolescentswho suffered from primary dysmenorrhea.

Article Details

How to Cite
1.
Parsa P, Bashirian S. Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) on primary dysmenorrhea in adolescent girls. J Postgrad Med Inst [Internet]. 2013 Jun. 21 [cited 2024 Mar. 29];27(3). Available from: https://jpmi.org.pk/index.php/jpmi/article/view/1421
Section
Original Article
Author Biographies

Parisa Parsa, Research Center for Chronic Diseases Home Care . Department of Mother and Child Health, Hamadan University of Medicine and Health Sciences

Research Center for Chronic Diseases Home Care . Department of Mother and Child Health

Saeed Bashirian, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hamadan University of Medicine and Health Sciences

Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences,