Usefulness and Safety of a Wearable Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Device for Promoting Exercise Therapy in Patients With Chronic Knee Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

研究概要

Sixty-three patients with chronic knee pain (aged ≥50 years) were randomized to receive either TENS therapy (n=21), exercise therapy (n=23), or both TENS and exercise therapy (n=19) over 4 weeks. The primary outcome was physical activity (PA), measured objectively via activity monitors. Secondary outcomes included the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, stair climbing, pain during each physical test (via visual analog scale), and weekly self-reported pain. Outcomes were assessed before and after the intervention. Overall, the results of the study revealed that all groups experienced significant pain reduction and improved stair climbing. Only the exercise group showed improved 6MWT performance, while only the TENS group improved TUG clockwise rotation time. The combined group showed a significant reduction in light-intensity physical activity time. These findings suggest that wearable TENS devices may support the early reduction of knee pain and help facilitate the introduction and maintenance of exercise therapy in patients with chronic knee pain.