Investigation of the effect of tens treatment on cardiac electrical activity using proarrhythmogenic markers

Abstract

Aim: It was aimed to investigate the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) treatment, which is widely used for pain, on cardiac electrical activity by using new proarrhythmogenic markers that give an idea on cardiac arrhythmia. Material and Method: Forty patients (21 females, 19 males, mean age 56.60±10.38) who applied to our outpatient clinic with the complaint of pain in the left shoulder or limitation of motion were included in our study. A fifteen-session physical therapy program was applied to the patients. Twelve-lead electrocardiography (ECG) was performed before treatment, at the end of the first day of treatment, and after treatment; and heart rate, QT interval (cQT) corrected according to Bazett’s formula, Tp-e/QT and electrophysiological balance index (iCEB) ratio were measured. The relationship of the measurements before treatment-first day after treatment, before treatment-fifteenth day after treatment and first day after treatment-fifteenth day after treatment was evaluated by Paired-Samples T test analysis. Results: In our study, when heart rate, cQT, Tp-e/QT and iCEB values were statistically analyzed, no significant difference was observed between measurements, since p>0.05. Conclusion: In our study, when the heart rate, new proarrhythmogenic markers cQT, Tp-e/QT and iCEB values were examined in patients who received physical therapy to the left shoulder region, it was seen that TENS treatment did not have a significant effect on cardiac rhythm.