Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for low back pain. A comparison of TENS and massage for pain and range of motion.

Patients with acute or chronic low back pain were treated in a double-blind study that compared transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation at intense levels and gentle, mechanically administered massage. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation produced significantly greater pain relief, based on two measures of the McGill Pain Questionnaire, and significant improvement in straight leg raising. There were no significant differences between the two groups in backflexion scores. Pain-relief scores and range-of-motion scores were significantly correlated. The results indicate that pain-relief scores provide valuable information and can easily be obtained from patients for whom pain is a major symptom.