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. 2015 Jan-Apr;21(1):116-20.
doi: 10.4103/0973-1075.150203.

Application of low frequency and medium frequency currents in the management of acute and chronic pain-a narrative review

Stephen Rajan Samuel  1 , G Arun Maiya  1
Affiliations

Application of low frequency and medium frequency currents in the management of acute and chronic pain-a narrative review

Stephen Rajan Samuel et al. Indian J Palliat Care. 2015 Jan-Apr.

Abstract

Trancutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and interferential therapy (IFT) have been a regular line of treatment for various types of acute and chronic pain. This review aims to compile the latest literature in pain management using these modalities which use low-frequency and medium-frequency currents. The Cochrane Library, Scopus, PubMed, MEDLINE, and CINAHL were searched and studies were examined from their inception till October 2013. After title and abstract screening the relevant studies were included for this review. We found through this review that even though TENS and IFT are used in management of pain, there is limited amount of high quality research available in this area. Most of the studies lack methodological quality and have a low sample size.

Keywords: Acute pain; Chronic pain; Electro physical modalities and electrotherapy; Interferential Therapy; Low-frequency currents; Medium frequency currents; Pain; Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

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