The Effect of Simultaneous Application of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) on Specific Lumbar and Acupuncture Points on Labour Pain Relief: A Randomised Clinical Trial
Published: October 1, 2020 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2020/45744.14152
Fatemeh Farjad Bastani, Seyedeh Hajar Sharami, Soudabeh Kazemi Aski, Forozan Milani, Bahareh Khakifirooz, Maryam Shakiba, Seyedeh Maryam Attari, Tayebeh Omidkhah
1. Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Al-zahra Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
2. Professor, Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Al-zahra Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
3. Assistant Professor, Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Al-zahra Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
4. Associate Professor, Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Al-zahra Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
5. Resident, Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Al-zahra Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
6. Assistant Professor, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Center, Gu
Correspondence
Seyedeh Hajar Sharami,
Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Al-zahra Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
E-mail: sharami@gums.ac.ir
Introduction: Labour pain is among the most challenging experiences a woman could face during life. Non Pharmacological modalities like Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) are rather new methods, introduced for relieving this pain.
Aim: To investigate the effect of concurrent use of TENS application on the labour pain relief.
Materials and Methods: This is a double-blind randomised clinical trial study where, a total of 104 eligible pregnant women qualified for normal vaginal delivery. They were randomly divided into four groups treated with Lumbar-TENS or Acupuncture points-TENS as A: both inactive (placebo group), B: Active Acupuncture points TENS, C: Active Lumbar TENS and D: both active. TENS was applied on four points of toraco-lumbo sacral, while Acupuncture points-TENS was applied on Hegu and Sanyinjiao points. The pain scores were evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) criteria, four times during the study for each individual. A questionnaire was used to evaluate the final impression of the subjects about the TENS method. The groups were compared using chi-square or Kruskal Wallis test. The trend of pain score over the study time points were assessed using Generalised Estimating Equation (GEE).
Results: The mean age of the women were 27.86±5.92 years. There were no significant differences between the groups based on the pain scores over the study periods (p-value=0.588). There was a statistically significant difference between groups for satisfaction about the procedure and the placebo group had the lowest rate of tendency to reuse TENS at the future Labour (74%) compared to the other three groups (93-100%) (p-value=0.046).
Conclusion: Lumbar or Acupuncture points-TENS had no significant relieving effects on Labour pain among the participants.
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