Abstract

Introduction: Neck chronic pain is one of the most common problems in people today. However, people do not always seek medical treatment for their pain. Subclinical or mild pain generally does not prompt people to seek medical treatment. Consequences of this type of pain can be anxiety, disability and proprioception problems. The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) recommends transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) as an intervention to treat neck pain with mobility deficits. TENS for the treatment of pain has been used for many years; however, there is still an “efficacy-impasse” for the use of TENS despite half a century of research. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of electrotherapy on pain, anxiety, disability and proprioception in young adults.

Methods: Thirty-nine participants participated in this study; one participant was unable to finish the study. Sixteen participants with no pain were in the normal group; twenty-three participants with mild pain were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n=10) and the control group (n=12). The intervention group received TENS intervention for 30 minutes and a TENS home-based program for 2 weeks. Pain, disability and perceived anxiety were assessed for all groups. Cervical spine active range of motion (AROM) and cervical spine proprioception were measured with the Noraxon myoMotionTMsystem.

Results: There was a significant reduction in pain and disability in the intervention group post 30 minutes versus baseline. There was a significant reduction in STAI_S and STAI_T for the intervention group post 30 minutes versus baseline; a significant increase in mean lateral flexion right for the intervention group post 30 minutes versus baseline (40.0±6.4 versus 36.4±8.6; p=0.006) and post 2 weeks compared to baseline (40.0±6.4 versus 38.2±8.5; p=0.036). Significant decrease in mean JPE extension for the intervention group post 30 minutes versus baseline (3.4±1.2 versus 5.1±2.5; p=0.027). Conclusion: Reduction in anxiety and disability with TENS treatment suggests that TENS’ immediate and short-term effects are beneficial in reducing pain, improving proprioception and decreasing related anxiety in young adults and students of higher education. Research is needed to assess the effects of TENS on different age groups.

LLU Discipline

Physical Therapy

Department

Physical Therapy

School

School of Allied Health Professions

First Advisor

Eric Johnson

Second Advisor

Lillian Mleziva

Third Advisor

Noha Daher

Fourth Advisor

Everett Lohman

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Level

Ph.D.

Year Degree Awarded

2024

Date (Title Page)

6-2024

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Neck Pain; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation; Anxiety; Proprioception; Range of Motion, Articular

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

xi, 71 p.

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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