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European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology 194 (2015) 5863

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and


Reproductive Biology
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ejogrb

Efcacy of the device combining high-frequency transcutaneous


electrical nerve stimulation and thermotherapy for relieving primary
dysmenorrhea: a randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Banghyun Lee a, Seung Hwa Hong b, Kidong Kim a,*, Wee Chang Kang c, Jae Hong No a,
Jung Ryeol Lee a, Byung Chul Jee a, Eun Joo Yang d, Eun-Jong Cha e, Yong Beom Kim a
a
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-Si, Gyeonggi-Do, Republic of Korea
b
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chungbuk National University, College of Medicine, Cheongju-Si, Chungcheongbuk-Do, Republic of Korea
c
Department of Business Information and Statistics, DaeJeon University, Daejeon-Si, Chungcheongnam-Do, Republic of Korea
d
Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-Si, Gyeonggi-Do, Republic of Korea
e
Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea

A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T

Article history: Objective: To investigate the efcacy and safety of the combined therapy with high-frequency
Received 2 July 2015 transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (hf-TENS) and thermotherapy in relieving primary
Received in revised form 10 August 2015 dysmenorrheal pain.
Accepted 13 August 2015
Study design: In this randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled study, 115 women with moderate or
severe primary dysmenorrhea were assigned to the study or control group at a ratio of 1:1. Subjects in
Keywords: the study group used an integrated hf-TENS/thermotherapy device, whereas control subjects used a
Dysmenorrhea
sham device. A visual analog scale was used to measure pain intensity. Variables related to pain relief,
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
Thermotherapy
including reduction rate of dysmenorrheal score, were compared between the groups.
Results: The dysmenorrheal score was signicantly reduced in the study group compared to the control
group following the use of the devices. The duration of pain relief was signicantly increased in the study
group compared to the control group. There were no differences between the groups in the brief pain
inventory scores, numbers of ibuprofen tablets taken orally, and World Health Organization quality of
life-BREF scores. No adverse events were observed related to the use of the study device.
Conclusions: The combination of hf-TENS and thermotherapy was effective in relieving acute pain in
women with moderate or severe primary dysmenorrhea.
2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Introduction effectiveness in controlling pain is not enough [2,3]. Therefore,


there has been the need for non-pharmacologic management of
Primary dysmenorrhea develops without pelvic pathology. The dysmenorrhea [2,3].
pain of primary dysmenorrhea usually lasts 872 h during the High-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (hf-
menstrual cycle [1] and is commonly managed with nonsteroidal TENS, conventional TENS) commonly delivers low-intensity electri-
anti-inammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and oral contraceptive pills cal impulses at a frequency of 50120 Hz [4]. Several randomized
[1,2]. However, these pain treatments are associated with various trials and a meta-analysis have reported that hf-TENS signicantly
adverse effects such as nausea, intermenstrual bleeding, and reduced the intensity of primary dysmenorrheal pain compared to
breast tenderness [1,3]. Moreover, the evidence supporting their placebo TENS [47]. Furthermore, two randomized studies have
demonstrated that low-intensity topical heat therapy delivered via a
abdominal patch or a heat wrap signicantly reduced the intensity of

Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, www.clinicaltrials.gov, primary dysmenorrheal pain [8,9]. It is not certain how TENS or
NCT01662934. thermotherapy relieve pain. However, analgesic effect of these may
* Corresponding author at: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul be explained by the gate control theory of pain in which stimuli from
National University Bundang Hospital, 82, Gumi-ro 173 beon-gil, Bundang-gu,
TENS or thermotherapy are delivered to the A-beta nerve ber. Then,
Seongnam-Si, Gyeonggi-Do, Republic of Korea. Tel.: +82 31 787 7262;
fax: +82 31 787 4054. the signals from the A-beta bers are transmitted to the spinal cord
E-mail address: kidong.kim.md@gmail.com (K. Kim). where they temporarily block the transportation of pain sensations

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2015.08.020
0301-2115/ 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
B. Lee et al. / European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology 194 (2015) 5863 59

to the brain [1012]. Therefore, both treatments may be effective for analgesics to control pain for a minimum of 6 months, and provided
primary dysmenorrhea [13,14]. voluntary consent to the present clinical trial. Exclusion criteria
In this study, we used a pain-relieving device that integrates hf- were as follows: pregnant women; women with history of surgery in
TENS and thermotherapy. A treatment combining TENS and the lower abdomen; women who had been diagnosed with cancer in
neuromuscular electrical stimulation was reported to be more the last 5 years or had suspected cancer; those who could not use
effective in reducing chronic back pain than each method alone TENS, for example, because of a permanent pacemaker or skin
[15]. Similarly, both TENS and thermotherapy may provide disease; and those with contraindications for ibuprofen, such as
analgesia through altering pain sensation following peripheral peptic ulcer.
stimulation. Therefore, we hypothesized that a similar effect could Fig. 1 shows the ow diagram of this randomized trial. At the
be achieved by applying this combinatory approach to dysmenor- rst visit, participants were asked for informed consent. Assess-
rhea. ment of eligibility, urinary human chorionic gonadotropin test,
The effectiveness of non-pharmacologic therapies such as TENS, gynecological examination, transvaginal ultrasound, and random-
topical heat therapy, and acupuncture for relieving dysmenorrhea ization were performed.
have been demonstrated through randomized studies although Gynecological examination and transvaginal ultrasound, which
they have been limited to small-scale trials (39). However, the is commonly used in our country, were performed to determine
effectiveness of combination therapies have not been evaluated. the type of dysmenorrhea. The ndings of gynecological examina-
Therefore, this study aimed to test the efcacy and safety of the tion indicating secondary dysmenorrhea were as follows: uterine
combined therapy comprising hf-TENS and thermotherapy in hypertrophy, uterine mass, adnexal mass, and chronic pelvic
relieving dysmenorrheal pain. inammatory disease. The ndings of transvaginal ultrasound
indicating secondary dysmenorrhea were as follows: uterine
Methods myoma (largest diameter >5 cm), adenomyosis (globular uterine
enlargement with an obscure endometrial/myometrial border or
Our prospective, randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled asymmetrical uterine wall thickening [16]), and endometrioma
study included women who enrolled for clinical trial in two (unilocular cyst with homogeneous ground glass echogenicity of
University Hospitals from May 24, 2012 to November 23, 2012. This cyst uid [17]). The diagnosis of secondary dysmenorrhea could be
study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Seoul established based on other ndings at the discretion of the
National University Bundang Hospital (no. E-1112/069-001) on investigators. Subjects were diagnosed with primary dysmenor-
July 23, 2012 and Chungbuk National University (no. 2009-03-019) rhea if secondary dysmenorrhea was excluded.
on March 26, 2009. Stratied randomization was performed according to the
Inclusion criteria were as follows: premenopausal women who clinical trial hospital and the type of dysmenorrhea by a statistician
were over 20 years old, had moderate or severe lower abdominal who had no direct contacts with the participants. Subjects were
dysmenorrhea [visual analog scale (VAS) score  5/10] that required randomly assigned to the study and control groups at a 1 to 1 ratio,

Moderate or severe dysmenorrhea


(n = 118)

Gynecologic examination
Transvaginal ultrasound

Dropout (n = 3)
Prior to randomization
Randomization (n = 115)
Stratification: Clinical trial hospitals
Primary or secondary dysmenorrhea

Study group (n = 57) Control group (n = 58)


Study device (hf-TENS and thermotherapy) Sham device
Intake ibuprofen (if needed) Intake ibuprofen (if needed)

Change of dysmenorrheal pain score


Duration of dysmenorrheal pain relief
BPI score
Number of ibuprofen tablets taken orally
WHOQOL-BREF score

Fig. 1. Flow diagram of this randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled study. Three subjects were excluded from the analyses before randomization based on the exclusion
criteria.
60 B. Lee et al. / European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology 194 (2015) 5863

and block randomization was performed. The size of the block unit participants were also recorded and assessed according to the
was not disclosed to prevent investigators from predicting National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for
subjects assignments. The participants and investigators did not Adverse Events, version 4.0. The study device was considered
know whether a participant was assigned to the study or control safe if no participants suffered from AEs of grade 3 that had
group. However, women could realize that they were assigned to possible/probable/denite association with the use of the study
the control group because the sham device did not perform TENS device during the clinical trial. If there were participants who
and thermotherapy. Therefore, this study was considered a single- experienced the above AEs, frequency, type, and severity of AE, as
blind trial. well as associations between the use of the clinical trial device and
During the rst menstrual cycle, participants completed AE, were assessed.
dysmenorrhea diaries, and assessments of efcacy and adverse I-Rune, a battery-powered portable pain reliever (model name:
events (AEs) were performed. World Health Organization quality I-200L, Medirune Co., Ltd., Seoul, Republic of Korea) was used in the
of life (WHOQOL)-BREF [18] assessment was carried out once, and study group. This device provides pain relief by applying hf-TENS
AEs were evaluated during the visit after the rst menstrual cycle. and thermotherapy. The sham device used in the control group
Participants recorded the beginning of menstruation in the looked like the study device. The participants of the study group
dysmenorrhea diary. The clinical trial device was used whenever used the clinical trial device without payment during the study.
dysmenorrheal pain was felt, and the starting time of its Since no previous data obtained under the same conditions
application and degree of dysmenorrheal pain immediately before were available, the results of two trials that utilized similar setups
the application were recorded. If dysmenorrheal pain was [20,21] were used for estimating the expected magnitude of
sufciently relieved or the clinical trial device was used for changes. In particular, the difference in mean rate of change in
30 min, it was removed, and the ending time and degree of dysmenorrheal pain score between the groups (d) and standard
remaining dysmenorrheal pain were recorded. The diary was deviation (s) were set at 20% and 32%, respectively. Independent
recorded at the end of every day until the end of the menstruation two-sample t-test with 80% power at the 0.05 level of signicance
as determined based on disappearance of bleeding, but not longer was performed based on estimated compliance (w) and dropout
than 8 days. AEs were monitored until the end of the menstruation rates (r) of 10% and 15%, respectively. Sample size was calculated as
even if it lasted for more than 8 days. VAS was used to measure pain follows:
intensity.
To use the hf-TENS/thermotherapy or sham device, a gel pad 2s 2 Z a=2 Z b 2 2  322 1:96 0:8422
n 2
 59
was attached to a silicon patch, the controller was connected to the 2
d 1  w 1  r 202 1  0:12 1  0:15
patch, the patch was attached in the lower abdomen where there
was pain, the power was turned on, and the sequential mode was Fifty-seven and fty-eight women were assigned to the study
selected. The frequency of electrical signal (range: 100110 Hz) and control groups, respectively.
and temperature (40  1 8C or 37  1 8C) were then adjusted SAS 9.2 software (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA) was used for all
depending on personal preferences, and nerve stimulation was analyses. Efcacy assessments were based on intention-to-treat
performed for 10 min, immediately followed by 20 min of thermo- (ITT) analyses and used reference per-protocol (pp) analyses. ITT
therapy. analyses were performed in participants from the study groups
If the pain was not adequately relieved after 30 min of device who took clinical trial devices. PP analyses were performed in
application, oral ibuprofen was immediately taken. The initial participants who completed the clinical trial according to the
ibuprofen dose of 200 mg was increased by 200 mg after a initial plan without violations and for whom efcacy assessments
minimum of 4 h if the pain did not subside until the maximum were performed. All subjects completed the study without dropout
daily dose of 1200 mg (6 tablets). Devices were not applied if they or violations after randomization. Therefore, both ITT and PP
would interfere with work or other duties. The doses, timing, and analyses yielded identical results for primary and secondary
reasons for taking the medication were recorded. The trial device endpoints. Continuous variables were analyzed using the inde-
was not used within 1 h after taking ibuprofen [19]. pendent t-test or MannWhitney rank sum test. Categorical
Efcacy assessment occurred in all randomized participants. variables were analyzed using the Pearsons chi-square test or
The primary endpoint was reduction of dysmenorrheal pain score Fishers exact test. Differences in primary and secondary endpoints
(VAS score). Secondary endpoints were duration of dysmenorrheal between the groups were analyzed using a multivariate linear
pain relief, brief pain inventory (BPI) score, number of ibuprofen regression model with adjustments for the clinical trial hospital
tablets taken, and WHOQOL-BREF score. For all variables, the and type of dysmenorrhea. If confounding factors did not yield
averages of values measured after applying the clinical device in signicant differences in the multivariate linear regression model,
each episode by each participant were used for calculations. they were removed from the model. Signicant variables were
Absolute reduction of dysmenorrheal pain score was calculated selected using stepwise selection, and the signicance criterion for
as follows: reduction = pain score immediately before wearing the inclusion or exclusion was the P-value of 0.1. The efcacy of the
clinical trial device  pain score immediately after removing the clinical trial device was assessed after removing these confounding
clinical trial device. Duration (h) of dysmenorrheal pain relief was factors. A P-value of <0.05 was considered to indicate statistical
dened as the time interval between removing the clinical trial signicance.
device and its next application or taking ibuprofen. If analgesics
were taken because dysmenorrheal pain was not adequately Results
relieved with the clinical trial device, duration time of pain relief
was considered 0. The study and control groups included 57 and 58 subjects with
Participants recorded BPI scores in the evening of the following primary dysmenorrhea, respectively. Age, height, body weight, and
day on which the rst menstruation began after the enrollment in mean VAS scores of dysmenorrheal pain intensity at baseline were
the clinical trial. Ibuprofen tablets taken orally were counted. not signicantly different between the study and control groups.
Quality of life (QOL) during the clinical trial was assessed. The distribution of subjects in the study and control groups
The expected AEs were electrical shock, low-temperature burn, between the clinical trial hospitals also did not differ signicantly
pruritus, and dermatitis. Participants were asked whether they (P > 0.05; Table 1). The current trial was completed including the
experienced the specic expected AEs. Other AEs reported by subjects with primary and secondary dysmenorrhea. However,
B. Lee et al. / European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology 194 (2015) 5863 61

Table 1 signicant [reduction of 1.44  0.22 (24.47%), P < 0.000; Table 3].
Baseline characteristics of the study population.
Furthermore, the dysmenorrheal pain score decreased progressively
Study group Control group P-value with the repeated use of the study device, with later applications
(n = 57) (n = 58) providing signicantly stronger relief (P < 0.001, data not shown),
Age (years), mean  SE 28.14  6.17 27.02  5.94 0.322 which reected the more frequent use of the study device than the
Height (cm), mean  SE 161.22  5.20 160.91  5.48 0.750 placebo device. The duration of relief from dysmenorrheal pain was
Body weight (kg), 52.28  5.88 52.58  5.81 0.786 4.08  4.8 h in the study group and 0.72  1.92 h in the control group.
mean  SE
This value was signicantly higher in the study group (increase of
VAS scores for 6.90  1.14 7.21  1.35 0.196
dysmenorrheal 3.12  0.72 h, P < 0.000; Table 3).
pain, mean  SE The BPI scores, numbers of ibuprofen tablets taken orally, and
Number of subjects WHOQOL-BREF scores did not differ between the groups (Table 3).
Hospital 1 (n = 59), n 30 29
Neither expected nor unexpected AEs occurred in the study and
Hospital 2 (n = 56), n 27 29 0.778
control groups.
SE standard error: VAS visual analog scale.

Discussion
only 4 women with secondary dysmenorrhea were enrolled. And
the low number of subjects included did not allow drawing a Unlike the previous studies, which investigated individual
conclusion regarding the efciency of the study device in relieving effects of hf-TENS or thermotherapy on primary dysmenorrheal
secondary dysmenorrhea pain. Therefore, women with secondary pain, we evaluated the efciency of the approach combining the
dysmenorrhea were excluded from the analyses. two therapies. We hypothesized that the combined device would
The mean dysmenorrheal pain score after the rst use of the be more efcient in relieving primary dysmenorrheal pain than
device as well as the average of mean pain score after all device devices implementing hf-TENS or thermotherapy alone. However,
applications every episode by each patient were signicantly although we did not compare the efciencies directly, an estimate
reduced in the study group compared with the control group based on published data suggested similar extents of reduction of
(rst use, 4.53  1.71 vs. 5.72  1.74, P < 0.001; all applications, the dysmenorrheal pain score for the combined, hf-TENS, and
4.53  1.71 vs. 5.64  1.58, P < 0.001), whereas the corresponding thermotherapy devices when compared to a placebo device (study
values obtained before applying the device did not differ (P > 0.05). device, 1.44; hf-TENS, 1.26; thermotherapy, 1.32) [6,8].
The number of times the device was used was lower and declined The initial menstrual pain intensity score in our study was
more quickly in the control group. The proportion of instances where similar to those reported previously (4.447.94) [6,8,22]. However,
the device was removed before the end of the 30 min session and the even though the dysmenorrheal pain intensity score decreased
time interval before the removal did not differ between the groups signicantly after using the clinical trial device, the averages of
(P > 0.05; Table 2). mean VAS scores measured after removing the device at every
The dysmenorrheal pain intensity score after using the clinical episode in each participant were still high in both groups. The
trial devices decreased by 1.78  1.35 (30.34%) in the study group participants in both groups of this study took only 1.4 ibuprofen
and 0.34  0.93 (5.87%) in the control group. The averages of mean tablets on average. Therefore, we believe that a tendency to take
reduction values of dysmenorrheal pain score measured after less analgesics in our country may explain this nding [23,24]. To
applying the clinical device at every episode by each participant take this tendency into account, we used a low dose of ibuprofen
were calculated. The difference between the groups was statistically initially and progressively increased it.

Table 2
Visual analog scale pain scores and details of the study devices application.

Study group (n = 57) Control group (n = 58) P-value

VAS score, mean  SE Before wearing device (rst use) 6.06  1.28 6.05  1.57 0.899
After removing device (rst use) 4.53  1.71 5.72  1.74 <0.001
Before wearing device (all uses) 6.01  1.03 5.98  1.36 0.563
After removing device (all uses) 4.23  1.50 5.64  1.58 <0.001a

Number of device 205 151


applications

Times used n n

Distribution of numbers 1 57 58
of times the device was used 2 49 32
3 39 21
4 21 11
5 11 5
6 8 3
7 7 2
8 5 1
9 3
10 3
11 1
12 1

Cases where the device was n (%) 12 (5.85%) 25 (16.56%) 1.000


removed before 30 min Time before removing the 20.00  4.55 18.04  4.19 0.255
device (min), mean  SE

VAS visual analog scale: SE standard error.


a
P-value was determined using the independent t-test. The remaining P-values were determined using the MannWhitney rank sum test or Fishers exact test.
62 B. Lee et al. / European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology 194 (2015) 5863

Table 3
The effect of the application of the study devices on various characteristics of dysmenorrhea.

Study group (n = 57) Control group (n = 58) Multivariate analysis

Estimate (SE) P-valuea

Absolute reduction of 1.78  1.35 (30.34) 0.34  0.93 (5.87) 1.44 (0.22) <0.000
VAS score, mean  SE (%)

Duration of dysmenorrheal 4.08  4.8 0.72  1.92 3.12  0.72 <0.000


pain relief (h), mean  SE

BPI scores, mean  SE Highest 6.68  1.49 6.78  1.56 0.09 (0.28) 0.758
Lowest 2.22  1.56 2.74  1.77 0.52 (0.31) 0.098
Average 4.89  1.42 5.12  1.61 0.22 (0.29) 0.434
Life interference 34.58  15.26 38.97  13.89 4.37 (2.76) 0.116

Number of ibuprofen tablets 1.42  2.09 1.43  2.20 0.01 (0.40) 0.980
taken orally, mean  SE

WHOQOL-BREF scores, General 3.65  0.64 3.77  0.60 0.13 (0.12) 0.284
mean  SE Health 3.53  0.89 3.53  0.68 0.00 (0.15) 0.993
Physical 95.44  18.89 90.53  15.87 4.95 (3.28) 0.134
Psychological 79.58  14.61 80.35  12.34 0.80 (2.55) 0.754
Social 41.82  5.75 41.67  5.95 0.13 (1.12) 0.906
Environmental 100.84  22.40 100.00  18.30 0.82 (3.86) 0.832

VAS visual analog scale: SE standard error: BPI scores brief pain inventory scores: WHOQOLBREF scores World health organization quality of life (WHOQOL)BREF scores.
a
P-values were determined using multivariate linear regression analysis with adjustment for the clinical trial hospital and type of dysmenorrhea.

There is limited evidence regarding the duration of analgesia relieved pain in women with moderate or severe primary
induced by hf-TENS in the management of primary dysmenorrhea. dysmenorrhea. In particular, the intensity and duration of dysme-
According to the results of randomized trials, the intensities of norrheal pain decreased signicantly after using the integrated hf-
primary dysmenorrheal pain continuously decreased at 8 h and TENS/thermotherapy device compared to the placebo device.
24 h from the beginning of TENS application, and the usage of TENS Importantly, no AEs occurred during the trial, demonstrating the
for two cycles signicantly delayed the need for ibuprofen intake safety of the study device. Therefore, this new non-pharmacologic
by an average of 5.9 h compared to 0.7 h when ibuprofen was used therapeutic strategy may be an effective and safe approach for the
alone [7,22]. Supporting the previous studies, the duration of pain management of dysmenorrhea. Randomized, large-scale trials are
relief by our combined therapy was signicantly longer compared necessary to further clarify the efcacy and safety of using this study
to that achieved with the placebo device. device.
In the current study, the women in the control group could realize
that they were using a placebo device based on the lack of sensations Competing interests
typical of TENS/thermotherapy. This reduced the compliance in the
control group, as reected by fewer repeated uses of the device. To The authors declare that they have no conicts of interest.
minimize this bias, the study was completed in 1 menstrual cycle.
A recent study reported that hf-TENS relieved the autonomic
Acknowledgements
symptoms associated with primary dysmenorrhea when compared
with placebo TENS [6]. Topical heat therapies were also reported to
We are grateful to nurse Kyung Hee Kim for her contributions,
reduce the overall severity of menstrual symptoms, including
including data collection. This study was nancially supported by
tension, headache, fatigue, and mood swings, when compared with
Medirune Co., Ltd. The sponsors were not involved in study design;
placebo or NSAIDs [8,9]. In contrast, other studies detected no
collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; writing of the
differences in the number of women needing additional analgesics,
report; and the decision to submit the report for publication. This
number of additional analgesic tablets used, and absence from work
work was also supported through the Industrial Complex Cluster
or school between hf-TENS and placebo TENS [4,5,7]. In support of
Program of Korea Industrial Complex Corporation.
the latter negative results, we found that the use of the new
combined therapy for primary dysmenorrhea did not affect the BPI
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