Pain relief by applying transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on acupuncture points during the first stage of labor: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial - PubMed (original) (raw)

Randomized Controlled Trial

. 2007 Feb;127(3):214-220.

doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2006.08.016. Epub 2006 Oct 6.

Affiliations

• PMID: 17030438
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pain.2006.08.016

Randomized Controlled Trial

Pain relief by applying transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on acupuncture points during the first stage of labor: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial

An-Shine Chao et al. Pain. 2007 Feb.

Abstract

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is one of the non-pharmacological means of pain relief for labor and delivery. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of TENS on specific acupuncture points for reducing pain in the first stage of labor. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we randomly assigned healthy full-term parturients in active phase of first-stage labor to either TENS on four acupuncture points (Hegu [Li 4] and Sanyinjiao [Sp 6]) (n=52) or the TENS placebo (n=53). Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess pain before and 30 and 60 min after treatment. The primary outcome was the rate of VAS score decrease 3 in each group. A questionnaire was given at 24h post-partum to evaluate the satisfaction of pain relieving method and the willingness to have the same treatment again. Mode of delivery and neonatal effect were measured as secondary outcome. One hundred women were eligible for analysis. TENS group experienced VAS score reduction 3 significantly more common than the TENS placebo group (31/50 [62%] vs 7/50 [14%], P<0.001). Willingness of using the same analgesic method for a future childbirth was also significantly different (TENS: 48/50 [96%] vs TENS placebo: 33/50 [66%], P<0.001). Operative delivery was increased in the TENS group (12/50 [24%] vs 4/50 [8%], P=0.05), but the neonatal outcomes were not different. The application of TENS on specific acupuncture points could be a non-invasive adjunct for pain relief in the first stage of labor.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

• Evaluation of different doses of transcutaneous nerve stimulation for pain relief during labour: a randomized controlled trial.
  Báez-Suárez A, Martín-Castillo E, García-Andújar J, García-Hernández JÁ, Quintana-Montesdeoca MP, Loro-Ferrer JF. Báez-Suárez A, et al. Trials. 2018 Nov 26;19(1):652. doi: 10.1186/s13063-018-3036-2. Trials. 2018. PMID: 30477529 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
• Acupuncture as pain relief during delivery: a randomized controlled trial.
  Borup L, Wurlitzer W, Hedegaard M, Kesmodel US, Hvidman L. Borup L, et al. Birth. 2009 Mar;36(1):5-12. doi: 10.1111/j.1523-536X.2008.00290.x. Birth. 2009. PMID: 19278378 Clinical Trial.
• The effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation during the first stage of labor: a randomized controlled trial.
  Njogu A, Qin S, Chen Y, Hu L, Luo Y. Njogu A, et al. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2021 Feb 24;21(1):164. doi: 10.1186/s12884-021-03625-8. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2021. PMID: 33627077 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
• Transcutaneous electrical stimulation for pain relief during labor: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
  Mello LF, Nóbrega LF, Lemos A. Mello LF, et al. Rev Bras Fisioter. 2011 May-Jun;15(3):175-84. Rev Bras Fisioter. 2011. PMID: 21829980 Review. English, Portuguese.
• The use of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for pain relief in labour: a review of the evidence.
  Bedwell C, Dowswell T, Neilson JP, Lavender T. Bedwell C, et al. Midwifery. 2011 Oct;27(5):e141-8. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2009.12.004. Epub 2010 Feb 18. Midwifery. 2011. PMID: 20170995 Review.

Cited by

• The comparison of effectiveness of acupressure on Spleen 6 and Hugo points on the severity of postpartum pain: A randomized clinical trial.
  Maleki SM, Heydarpour S, Nikrai R, Heydarpour F. Maleki SM, et al. Health Sci Rep. 2024 Jul 18;7(7):e2265. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.2265. eCollection 2024 Jul. Health Sci Rep. 2024. PMID: 39035678 Free PMC article.
• A Comparison of the Effects of Acupressure and Music on Venipuncture Pain Intensity in Children: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.
  Daihimfar F, Babamohamadi H, Ghorbani R. Daihimfar F, et al. Pain Res Manag. 2024 Jan 18;2024:2504732. doi: 10.1155/2024/2504732. eCollection 2024. Pain Res Manag. 2024. PMID: 38274399 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation with the injection of pethidine and promethazine in the labor pain reduction: A randomized controlled trial.
  Saedi N, Shokouhi N, Feizabad E, Moghimi Z, Mohseni M. Saedi N, et al. Caspian J Intern Med. 2023 Fall;14(4):628-632. doi: 10.22088/cjim.14.4.628. Caspian J Intern Med. 2023. PMID: 38024177 Free PMC article.
• Efficacy and Safety of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation (TEAS) As An Analgesic Intervention for Labor Pain: A Network Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
  Yan W, Kan Z, Yin J, Ma Y. Yan W, et al. Pain Ther. 2023 Jun;12(3):631-644. doi: 10.1007/s40122-023-00496-z. Epub 2023 Mar 19. Pain Ther. 2023. PMID: 36934401 Free PMC article. Review.

References

1. 1. Augustinsson LE, Bohlin P, Bundsen P, Carlsson CA, Forssman L, Sjoberg P, et al. Pain relief during delivery by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Pain. 1977;1:59-65.
2. 1. Carroll D, Tramer M, McQuay H, Nye B, Moore A. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in labour pain: a systematic review. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1997;2:169-175.
3. 1. Fox EJ, Melzack R. Transcutaneous electrical stimulation and acupuncture: comparison of treatment for low-back pain. Pain. 1976;2:141-148.
4. 1. Grim LC, Morey SH. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for relief of parturition pain. A clinical report. Phys Ther. 1985;3:337-340.
5. 1. Han JS. Acupuncture and endorphins. Neurosci Lett. 2004;1-3:258-261.

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources

• Full Text Sources

  • Elsevier Science
  • Ovid Technologies, Inc.
  • Wolters Kluwer