Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35144946›Full record

SynthesisBMJ open2022

Efficacy and safety of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for acute and chronic pain in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 381 studies (the meta-TENS study).

Mark I Johnson, Carole A Paley, Gareth Jones, Matthew R Mulvey, Priscilla G Wittkopf

4 registry-linked trialsOpen access · goldAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMJ open, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 4 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 138 papers, 10 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
138citing papers in PubMed, 10 pooled it
52.6field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06019091 naunknown statusnot on this map

Optimal Frequency Used in Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for Treating Pelvic Pain in Adults

TypeinterventionalSponsorAlbany Medical CollegeRan2022 to 2024Enrolled75ConditionsChronic Pelvic PainArmsCompass Health TENS 3000, 3 mode Analog Unit
NCT06153875 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2023, after this paper: background citation

Effects of Percutaneous Peripheral Nerve Stimulation on Neck and Low Back Pain: a Quadruple-blinded, Randomized Clinical Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorClinica Francisco Ortega Rehabilitacion Avanzada SLRan2023 to 2024Enrolled45ConditionsNeck Pain, Low Back PainArmsSensory Thresold, Burst High Frecuency, Theta-Burst Stimulation, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
NCT06202794 naunknown statusnot on this mapstarted 2024, after this paper: background citation

Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for the Treatment of Pain and Respiratory Function Following Mastopexy With Augmentation: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorFinis Terrae UniversityRan2024 to 2024Enrolled84ConditionsPostoperative Pain, Respiratory ComplicationArmsExperimental: Experimental group, Sham Comparator: Control group
NCT06524284 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2024, after this paper: background citation

Feasibility of Self-treatment of Painful Diabetic Neuropathy Using Electrical Vasomotor Nerve Stimulation

TypeinterventionalSponsorNeurecon BVRan2024 to 2025Enrolled40ConditionsPainful Diabetic NeuropathyArmsReleaf
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

138 citing papers in PubMed, 10 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 233 citations in OpenAlex.

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  11. Effects of Using High-Frequency TENS During an Exercise Therapy Program in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy · 2026
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78 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Mark I JohnsonCentre for Pain Research, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK m.johnson@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.ORCID 0000-0002-9421-9622
Carole A PaleyCentre for Pain Research, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-6335-2666
Gareth JonesCentre for Pain Research, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.
Matthew R MulveyLeeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-6357-3848
Priscilla G WittkopfCentre for Pain Research, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-2957-6156
Leeds Beckett University · GBAiredale NHS Foundation Trust · GBUniversity of Leeds · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo investigate the efficacy and safety of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for relief of pain in adults.

designSystematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: Medline, Cochrane Central, Embase (and others) from inception to July 2019 and updated on 17 May 2020. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR STUDY SELECTION: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing strong non-painful TENS at or close to the site of pain versus placebo or other treatments in adults with pain, irrespective of diagnosis. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Reviewers independently screened, extracted data and assessed risk of bias (RoB, Cochrane tool) and certainty of evidence (Grading and Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation). Mean pain intensity and proportions of participants achieving reductions of pain intensity (≥30% or

resultsThe review included 381 RCTs (24 532 participants). Pain intensity was lower during or immediately after TENS compared with placebo (91 RCTs, 92 samples, n=4841, SMD=-0·96 (95% CI -1·14 to -0·78), moderate-certainty evidence). Methodological (eg, RoB, sample size) and pain characteristics (eg, acute vs chronic, diagnosis) did not modify the effect. Pain intensity was lower during or immediately after TENS compared with pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments used as part of standard of care (61 RCTs, 61 samples, n=3155, SMD = -0·72 (95% CI -0·95 to -0·50], low-certainty evidence). Levels of evidence were downgraded because of small-sized trials contributing to imprecision in magnitude estimates. Data were limited for other outcomes including adverse events which were poorly reported, generally mild and not different to comparators.

conclusionThere was moderate-certainty evidence that pain intensity is lower during or immediately after TENS compared with placebo and without serious adverse events. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42019125054.

Indexed as

Chronic PainGraft vs Host DiseaseTranscutaneous Electric Nerve StimulationAdultHumansPain Measurementcomplementary medicineneurologypain managementrehabilitation medicine

Identifiers

PMID35144946
PMCPMC8845179
OpenAlexW4211029782

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.