Efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for rotator cuff tendinopathy: a systematic review

6 randomized controlled trials (n=271) were included in this systematic review for the purpose of comparing transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) with several other treatments for rotator cuff tendinopathy, including ultrasound therapy, corticosteroid injection, heat therapy, and pulse radiofrequency. Results demonstrated that although significant improvements were achieved by patients treated with TENS when compared to pre-treatment measurements, the majority of clinical outcomes showed comparable improvements between active treatment groups. However, due to the low methodological quality of the included studies, the authors of this review recommended further high-quality investigation in order to provide succinct recommendation of TENS therapy.