title: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) improves upper GI symptoms and balances the sympathovagal activity in scleroderma patients.
abstract: To assess the impact of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) at gastrointestinal (GI) acupoints on GI symptoms and quality of life in scleroderma patients, 17 patients filled out SF-36 and GI symptom questionnaires before the electrocardiogram was recorded for two intervals: baseline and TENS. At home, patients applied TENS for 14 days, then were reassessed. Acutely, TENS application significantly increased sympathetic and vagal activities vs. baseline (P=0.02 and P=0.004), respectively. Prolonged TENS application normalized the sympathovagal balance (P=0.04), decreased GI symptom scores (P=0.02) and increased the physical functioning score (SF36), which strongly correlated with the change in the sympathovagal balance (r=0.6, P=0.02). In conclusion, TENS at GI acupoints offers a potential option in the treatment of upper GI symptoms, but further study is necessary.
authors: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, USA.
authors: Hanaa
authors: H
authors: Sallam
authors: Terry A
authors: TA
authors: McNearney
authors: Dipti
authors: D
authors: Doshi
authors: J D Z
authors: JD
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016065:Myoelectric Complex, Migrating; D011788:Quality of Life; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012648:Self Care; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*