Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42079989›Full record

ArticleJournal of physical therapy science2026

Comparison of UNIQ and classic unipolar electrodes in TECAR therapy for low back pain: a retrospective cohort study.

Michela Giovanelli, Alessio Papaianopol

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of physical therapy science, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

2 authors.

Michela GiovanelliTi Riabilita, Italy.
Alessio PapaianopolArs Fisio: Via Fosso del Poggio, 53, 00189 Roma (RM), Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

[Purpose] Low back pain (LBP) affects millions worldwide and frequently becomes chronic, diminishing quality of life. TECAR therapy is a non-invasive intervention that applies radiofrequency currents to heat tissues, reduce spasms, and enhance circulation. This study aimed to evaluate a novel electrode integrating resistive and capacitive mechanisms to determine its efficacy in managing LBP with TECAR therapy. [Participants and Methods] Fifty-two patients were assessed at baseline (T0) and after a 2-week treatment period (T1) and received TECAR therapy with either a conventional electrode or the UNIQ electrode. Pain intensity was measured with the Visual Analogue Scale, lumbar mobility by active range of motion in flexion and extension, and disability using the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire. [Results] The treated group showed ΔVAS values of -6.00 ± 1.50 cm compared with -3.17 ± 1.85 cm in the control group. For lumbar range of motion, ΔROM was -1.75 ± 0.87 in the treated group and -1.16 ± 1.27 in the control group. Disability scores were -11.47 ± 4.81 in the treated group and -5.53 ± 4.21 in the control group. [Conclusion] These findings indicate that combining resistive and capacitive electrodes may increase the therapeutic effectiveness of TECAR therapy for managing low back pain.

Indexed as

ElectrotherapyHeat therapyLow back pain

Identifiers

PMID42079989
PMCPMC13132646

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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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.