Publication Date
11-8-2024
Journal
Scientific Reports
DOI
10.1038/s41598-024-78651-5
PMID
39516528
PMCID
PMC11549448
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
11-8-2024
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Published Open-Access
yes
Keywords
Humans, Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation, Fibromyalgia, Female, Pilot Projects, Middle Aged, Male, COVID-19, Adult, Fatigue, Treatment Outcome, Aged, SARS-CoV-2, Gait, Randomized controlled trials, Neuromuscular disease
Abstract
This study investigated the effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for fibromyalgia-like symptoms including chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and/or gait impairment in twenty-five individuals with long-COVID. Participants were randomized to a high dose (intervention group, IG) or low dose (placebo group, PG) TENS device. Both groups received daily 3-5 h of TENS therapy for 4-weeks. The Brief Pain Inventory assessed functional interference from pain (BPI-I), and pain severity (BPI-S). The global fatigue index (GFI) assessed functional interference from fatigue. Wearable technology measured gait parameters during three 30-feet consecutive walking tasks. At 4-weeks, the IG exhibited a greater decrease in BPI-I compared to the PG (mean difference = 2.61, p = 0.008), and improved in gait parameters including stride time (4-8%, test condition dependent), cadence (4-10%, depending on condition), and double-support phase (12% in dual-task) when compared to baseline. A sub-group meeting the 2010 American College of Rheumatology Fibromyalgia diagnostic criteria undergoing high-dose TENS showed GFI improvement at 4-weeks from baseline (mean change = 6.08, p = 0.005). Daily TENS therapy showed potential in reducing functional interference from pain, fatigue, and gait alterations in long-COVID individuals. The study's limited power could affect the confirmation of certain observations. Extending the intervention period may improve treatment effectiveness.
Included in
Critical Care Commons, Internal Medicine Commons, Medical Sciences Commons, Musculoskeletal Diseases Commons, Nervous System Diseases Commons, Pulmonology Commons
