Effects of Wearable Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain and interference with daily activities. The aim of this study is to assess the benefit of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for persons diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

Patients And Methods: Adults meeting diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia were randomized in a double-blind trial to receive either an active (n=62) or sham (n=57) wearable TENS device for 3-months.

Remote Analgesic Effects Of Conventional Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation: A Scientific And Clinical Review With A Focus On Chronic Pain.

Background: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a safe, noninvasive treatment for chronic pain that can be self-administered. Conventional TENS involves stimulation of peripheral sensory nerves at a strong, non-painful level. Following the original gate-control theory of pain, stimulation is typically near the target pain.

Impact of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on sleep in chronic low back pain: a real-world retrospective cohort study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) improves sleep in chronic low back pain (CLBP).

Background: There is uncertainty over the effectiveness of TENS in CLBP. In most studies, pain intensity has been the primary outcome measure.

Effectiveness of fixed-site high-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in chronic pain: a large-scale, observational study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of fixed-site high-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (FS-TENS) in a real-world chronic pain sample.

Background: There is a need for nonpharmacological treatment options for chronic pain. FS-TENS improved multisite chronic pain in a previous interventional study.

Fixed-site high-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for treatment of chronic low back and lower extremity pain.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine if fixed-site high-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (FS-TENS) is effective in treating chronic low back and lower extremity pain.

Background: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is widely used for treatment of chronic pain. General-purpose transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation devices are designed for stimulation anywhere on the body and often cannot be used while the user is active or sleeping.

Accuracy of in-office nerve conduction studies for median neuropathy: a meta-analysis.

Purpose: Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common focal neuropathy. It is typically diagnosed clinically and confirmed by abnormal median nerve conduction across the wrist (median neuropathy [MN]). In-office nerve conduction testing devices facilitate performance of nerve conduction studies (NCS) and are used by hand surgeons in the evaluation of patients with upper extremity symptoms.

An energy ratio based measure for F-wave backfiring rate estimation.

F-wave persistence is a frequently reported parameter for nerve conduction studies. F-wave activities are generated through backfiring of motor neurons. F-wave persistence is designed to estimate the backfiring rate.

Current-distance relationships for peripheral nerve stimulation localization.

Background: Successful peripheral nerve blocks require accurate placement of the injection needle tip before local anesthetic application. In this investigation, we experimentally reconstructed polarity-dependent (anode and cathode) stimulation maps using ex vivo and in vivo animal models.

Methods: A novel ex vivo configuration (muscle-nerve composite) was first used to probe both cathodic and anodic stimulation characteristics.

Nerve conduction studies: clinical challenges and engineering solutions.

Nerve conduction studies (NCSs) have played an important role in the evaluation of neuromuscular disease for the past 50 years. When patients present with complaints of pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness, NCS is often one of the earliest tests obtained by physicians, because it enables the quantitative assessment of peripheral nerve and muscle function and, therefore, aid the physician in identifying the physiological source of the patient's symptoms. NCSs involve the delivery of electric stimuli to peripheral nerves at accessible locations on the human body and the recording of electrophysiological responses.

Repeatability of nerve conduction measurements derived entirely by computer methods.

Background: Nerve conduction studies are an objective, quantitative, and reproducible measure of peripheral nerve function and are widely used in the diagnosis of neuropathies. The purpose of this study is to determine the reliability of nerve conduction parameters derived entirely from computer based data acquisition and waveform cursor assignments and to quantify the relative contributions of test variability sources.

Methods: Thirty volunteers, some with symptoms suggestive of neuropathies; of these, 29 completed the study.

Implementation and evaluation of a statistical framework for nerve conduction study reference range calculation.

Nerve conduction studies (NCS) play a central role in the clinical evaluation of neuropathies. Their clinical utilization depends on reference ranges that define the expected parameter values in disease-free individuals. In this paper, a statistical framework is proposed and described in detail for deriving NCS parameter reference ranges.

Utilization of nerve conduction studies for the diagnosis of polyneuropathy in patients with diabetes: a retrospective analysis of a large patient series.

Background: Diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) is a disabling complication of diabetes mellitus. A population-based analysis of physician utilization of nerve conduction studies (NCS) for the assessment of DPN was conducted.

Methods: All electrodiagnostic encounters over a 30-month period using a computer-based neurodiagnostic instrument linked to a data registry were analyzed retrospectively.

Point-of-service nerve conduction studies: an example of industry-driven disruptive innovation in health care.

Nerve conduction studies (NCS) and needle electromyography are useful and established diagnostic procedures for evaluating patients with signs and symptoms of neuromuscular disease. Although technological advances have occurred since the introduction of commercial electromyography instrumentation in the 1950s, most improvements have been evolutionary and were designed to benefit traditional users--neurologists and physiatrists specializing in electromyography. In the past seven years, instruments have been introduced that automate NCS and thereby enable a broader group of physicians, including internists and orthopedic surgeons, to perform these studies and utilize electromyographic data in the care of their patients.

Utility of nerve conduction studies for carpal tunnel syndrome by family medicine, primary care, and internal medicine physicians.

Introduction: Nerve conduction studies (NCS) are increasingly being performed at the point-of-service by family medicine, primary care, and internal medicine (FM/PCP/IM) physicians. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common neuropathy often diagnosed with the aid of NCS.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of a point-of-service NCS data registry was conducted; 1190 patients who underwent NCS by 613 FM/PCP/IM physician practices, for evaluation of CTS were analyzed.

Time-dependent changes in median nerve sensory amplitude after local anesthetic administration and tourniquet application.

Indirect visualization, as used in several newer mini-open and endoscopic carpal tunnel release (CTR) procedures, may increase the possibility of nerve injury in some cases. Intraoperative neural monitoring may be used to evaluate nerve location and integrity. In the study reported here, we assessed the feasibility of intraoperative neural monitoring by systematically exploring the effect of local anesthetic and tourniquet on median sensory amplitude.

Diabetic nerve conduction abnormalities in the primary care setting.

Background: Nerve conduction studies (NCS) are the most objective measure of nerve function, and their use is recommended in the clinical and epidemiological evaluation of diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN). The purpose of this study was to utilize automated NCS technology to characterize nerve conduction of patients with diabetes in primary care settings.

Methods: The Diabetes cohort was drawn from 28 community clinics.

Repeatability of nerve conduction measurements using automation.

Objective: To quantify nerve conduction study (NCS) reproducibility utilizing an automated NCS system (NC-stat, NeuroMetrix, Inc.).

Method: Healthy volunteers without neuropathic symptoms participated in the study.

Factors influencing F-wave latency detection of lumbosacral root lesions using a detection theory based model.

Objective: To evaluate the F-wave dilution hypothesis; which implies that absolute F-wave latencies obscure the much smaller delay associated with slow intra-lesion conduction, such is caused by nerve root compression in lumbosacral radiculopathy. A corollary objective is to determine how F-wave measurement and pathological factors influence diagnostic accuracy.

Methods: An analytical model is developed based on signal detection theory and a number of simplifying assumptions.

NC-stat sensory nerve conduction studies in the median and ulnar nerves of symptomatic patients.

Objective: This study evaluated validity and reliability of automated median and ulnar sensory nerve conduction study (NCS) measurements by the NC-stat.

Methods: Median and ulnar distal sensory latencies (DSL) and amplitudes (SNAP) were measured in sixty subjects with the NC-stat and by a neurologist (reference) using traditional instrumentation. The median-ulnar DSL differences (MUD) was calculated.

Median and ulnar nerve conduction measurements in patients with symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy using the NC-stat system.

Background: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a common, disabling, and costly complication of diabetes mellitus. Although there are multiple methods for detecting and monitoring DPN, nerve conduction studies (NCS) are generally considered to be the most sensitive and reproducible. However, utilization of NCS in patients with diabetes is low, presumably because of limited access and economic issues.

Time course and predictors of median nerve conduction after carpal tunnel release.

Purpose: To identify predictors of outcome and of electrophysiologic recovery in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) treated by endoscopic carpal tunnel release using a nerve conduction testing system (NC-Stat; NEUROMetrix, Inc, Waltham, MA).

Methods: Validity of the automated nerve conduction testing system was shown by comparing presurgical distal motor latencies (DMLs) against a reference obtained by referral to an electromyography laboratory. The DML was evaluated in 48 patients with CTS.