title: Effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on pain, walking function, respiratory muscle strength and vital capacity in kidney donors: a protocol of a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pain is a negative factor in the recovery process of postoperative patients, causing pulmonary alterations and complications and affecting functional capacity. Thus, it is plausible to introduce transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for pain relief to subsequently reduce complications caused by this pain in the postoperative period. The objective of this paper is to assess the effects of TENS on pain, walking function, respiratory muscle strength and vital capacity in kidney donors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-four patients will be randomly allocated into 2 groups: active TENS or placebo TENS. All patients will be assessed for pain intensity, walk function (Iowa Gait Test), respiratory muscle strength (maximal inspiratory pressure and maximal expiratory pressure) and vital capacity before and after the TENS application. The data will be collected by an assessor who is blinded to the group allocation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is the first to examine the effects of TENS in this population. TENS during the postoperative period may result in pain relief and improvements in pulmonary tests and mobility, thus leading to an improved quality of life and further promoting organ donation.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clinicos (ReBEC), number RBR-8xtkjp.
authors: Physical Therapy Department, University of the City of Sao Paulo (UNICID), Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Thiago Tafarel
authors: TT
authors: Galli
authors: Luciana Dias
authors: LD
authors: Chiavegato
authors: Nathália Risso
authors: NR
authors: Santiago
authors: Richard Eloin
authors: RE
authors: Liebano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012133:Respiratory Paralysis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014019:Tissue Donors; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014797:Vital Capacity; D055815:Young Adult