THE USE OF TRANSCUTANEOUS ELECTRICAL NERVE STIMULATION (TENS) IN THE TREATMENT OF THE SPASTICITY - A REVIEW

• Main Authors: Dahyan Wagner da Silva Silveira, Cristiane Aguiar Gusmão
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia 2008-01-01
• Series: Revista Saúde.com
• Subjects: spasticity; stimulation electrical; TENS
• Online Access: http://www.uesb.br/revista/rsc/ojs/index.php/rsc/article/view/85/453

This study it has as objective to argue the job of TENS in the spasticity, observing the main parameters, form of application and the mechanism for which TENS it acts in the spasticity. One is about a bibliographical revision based in the literature specialized selected scientific articles through search in the data base of scielo and of bireme, from the sources Medline and Lilacs. The studies found on the job of TENS in the spasticity, had pointed mainly that this chain reduces the spasticity significantly, in lower degrees. The stimulation electrical parameters had disclosed that TENS it (about A utilização da estimulação elétrica nervosa transcutânea (tens)... 100Hz) of raised frequency provides one better effect in the reduction of the spasticity. The types of TENS more used had been the conventional and the soon-intense one, however some studies had not presented the used duration of pulse, limit the determination of one better modality of TENS. Few studies had explained the mechanism of performance of the current related one. The ones that had made it, had pointed the release of opioid endogenous (Dynorphins) for the central nervous system as main mechanism of performance, however this contrasts with the neurophysiologic bases of the high-frequency stimulation, that demonstrated better resulted in the joined studies. Still it is necessary more studies on the job of this modality of stimulation electrical in the spasticity, since important parameters as duration of pulse, time of application, numbers of attendance and performance mechanism remains without scientific evidence.