TENS to treat fibromyalgia – evidence remains inconclusive

There is not good enough evidence to support or refute the use of TENS for treatment of fibromyalgia symptoms, says a Cochrane Review.

Because fibromyalgia is characterised by widespread pain throughout the body, it has been hoped that TENS, a treatment that involves putting pulsed electrical currents across the surface of the skin using two or four electrodes, could help manage the chronic pain condition.

TENS is inexpensive, can be self-administered and is not associated with any particular side effects.

Experts reviewing the evidence found eight studies involving 315 people with fibromyalgia, which compared TENS to fake treatment or other treatments such as hydrotherapy.

“We did not find enough high-quality studies to allow us to come to any conclusions about the effectiveness of TENS for fibromyalgia pain,” the authors explain. “Overall, it is not possible to judge whether TENS reduces pain associated with fibromyalgia.”

Click here to read the original findings.

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