TENS Added to Physical Therapy Lowers Fibromyalgia Pain - Scorecard - MDSpire

TENS Added to Physical Therapy Lowers Fibromyalgia Pain

Adjunctive transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation improves movement-evoked pain and fatigue in pragmatic trial

  • By

  • Andrea Surnit

  • April 3, 2026

  • 5 min

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Clinical Scorecard: TENS Added to Physical Therapy Lowers Fibromyalgia Pain

At a Glance

CategoryDetail
ConditionFibromyalgia
Key MechanismsTranscutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) reduces movement-evoked pain.
Target PopulationPatients with fibromyalgia undergoing physical therapy.
Care SettingOutpatient clinics.

Key Highlights

  • TENS combined with physical therapy reduced movement-evoked pain significantly compared to physical therapy alone.
  • 41% of TENS patients achieved at least a 30% reduction in pain vs 13% in the control group.
  • Improvements were sustained for six months post-treatment.
  • Minor adverse events occurred in about 30% of patients, including discomfort and skin irritation.
  • TENS is a safe nonpharmacologic option for fibromyalgia management.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

  • Diagnosis of fibromyalgia based on clinical criteria.

Management

  • Consider TENS as an adjunct to physical therapy for pain management.

Monitoring & Follow-up

  • Assess pain levels and functional outcomes at regular intervals.

Risks

  • Monitor for minor adverse events such as discomfort and skin irritation.

Patient & Prescribing Data

459 patients enrolled in the study, with 384 included in the analysis.

TENS should be used for approximately 2 hours daily during activity at a strong but comfortable intensity.

Clinical Best Practices

  • Tailor physical therapy approaches to individual patient needs.
  • Consider a 'start low and go slow' approach in physical therapy for fibromyalgia.
  • Monitor patient responses to TENS and adjust treatment as necessary.

References

Original Source(s)

TENS Added to Physical Therapy Lowers Fibromyalgia Pain

  • by Andrea Surnit

  • April 3, 2026

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