Comparison of Therapeutic Effects of Action Potential Simulation (APS) and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) in Knee Osteoarthritis

Backgrounds and

Rehabilitation and physiotherapy have a major role in reducing the pain and increasing the functional ability in knee joint osteoarthritis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the Action Potential Simulation (APS) and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) in patients with knee joint osteoarthritis.

In a Randomized Clinical Trial، 70 patients with mild or moderate knee joint osteoarthritis were enrolled in the study first group (35 patients in each group). Received APS and for the secondgroup TENS and therapeutic exercise for 10 sessions were applied. The primary outcome of the study was upon the VAS and WOMAC scoring system and was evaluated before and after the intervention.

Five patients (7. 1%) were male and 65 patients (92. 9%) were female، the mean age of the patients was 57. 1±7. 7 years. The mean VAS and WOMAC scores improvement after treatment statistically were significant in both groups (P<0. 001).

In regard to findings of this study it seems that using APS and TENS combined with therapeutic exercise are effective in pain reduction and function improvement of the affected knee but there is no difference for choosing between them in treatment approaches.