A device more usually associated with easing labour pains is
being used in combination with exercise to see if it can benefit
people with osteoarthritis (OA).
TENS machines have long been used to help ease the pain of
childbirth by sending electrical stimulation that helps desensitize
the nervous system.
Now, the same devices are being tested to see whether, when used
alongside exercise sessions, they can help patients with OA in
their knees.
The trial is being carried out at the Bristol Royal Infirmary's
Rheumatology Department together with researchers from the
University of the West of England.
The treatment could benefit the many thousands of people who
suffer from OA, a long-term condition which can cause severe
discomfort, stiffness and disability. The knee is one of the joints
most commonly affected by OA and is used most frequently in
research.
The TENS machines are pocket-sized and use pads to stick to the
affected joint. They work by sending electrical impulses that
over-ride pain and distract from discomfort.
Researcher and physiotherapist Melissa Domaille, who established
the OA knee exercise group at the BRI, said: "There is no cure for
people whose knees are affected by OA but this could help them
manage their condition.
"The exercises help improve balance and stability and strengthen
the knee, which will ultimately help improve mobility. The TENS
machines allow people to manage their pain on a day-to-day
basis.
"It is about giving patients the confidence to do exercise and
not to avoid all those things which they usually find painful. It
is about teaching people to pace their own activities and exercise
so they don't aggravate their condition."
TENS machines, which are battery-powered and the size only of a
mobile phone, allow patients to treat themselves at a time and
place of their choosing.
TENS machines also have the added benefit of having no
side-effects and of possibly reducing dependency on pain-relieving
drugs.
Dr Shea Palmer, of the University of the West of England, who is
leading the research, said: "There is already some good research
evidence for the effects of exercise and for TENS when either is
used on their own.
"What we really need to know is whether combining the two is
even more effective in allowing patients to manage their condition
and maximize their function".
Melissa Domaille added: "We expect to have positive results but
until the trial is completed, anyone experiencing joint pain who
suspects they have OA should consult their GP."
The results of the research will be known by summer 2009.
For further information, please contact Ian Probert at the
University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust press office on
0117 342 3751 or email ian.probert@UHBristol.nhs.uk
Editor's note:
TENS stands for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.
University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust manages eight
hospitals: Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol Eye Hospital, Bristol
Haematology & Oncology Centre, Bristol Royal Hospital for
Children, St Michael's Hospital, University of Bristol Dental
Hospital, the Homeopathic Hospital and Bristol General
Hospital.
Posted: 12/21/2007 10:13:24 by Kate Birch
