Abstract

A questionnaire was sent to patients with myofascial lumbar or cervical pain who were treated with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in order to determine the efficacy of this therapeutic modality. It was found that 45% of the lumbar pain patients and 33% of the cervical pain patients experienced a 50% or greater reduction in their pain with TENS. The optimal sites for placement of TENS electrodes also were ascertained. In those patients who received total relief of pain with TENS, three sites were noted consistently: a) bilateral stimulation over the sacroiliac joints; b) ipsalateral stimulation over the sacroiliac joint and sciatic nerve adjacent to the greater trochanter of the femur; and c) bilateral stimulation of the paraspimous muscles of C₄. These three sites correspond to known acupuncture and muscle trigger points suggesting a common mechanism of action.