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Digestive Diseases and Sciences
Published in: Digestive Diseases and Sciences 5/2007

01-05-2007 | Original Paper

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) Improves Upper GI Symptoms and Balances the Sympathovagal Activity in Scleroderma Patients

Authors: Hanaa Sallam, Terry A. McNearney, Dipti Doshi, J. D. Z. Chen

Published in: Digestive Diseases and Sciences | Issue 5/2007

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Abstract

To assess the impact of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) at gastrointestinal (GI) acupoints on GI symptoms and quality of life in scleroderma patients, 17 patients filled out SF-36 and GI symptom questionnaires before the electrocardiogram was recorded for two intervals: baseline and TENS. At home, patients applied TENS for 14 days, then were reassessed.
Acutely, TENS application significantly increased sympathetic and vagal activities vs. baseline (P= 0.02 and P= 0.004), respectively. Prolonged TENS application normalized the sympathovagal balance (P= 0.04), decreased GI symptom scores (P= 0.02) and increased the physical functioning score (SF36), which strongly correlated with the change in the sympathovagal balance (r= 0.6, P= 0.02). In conclusion, TENS at GI acupoints offers a potential option in the treatment of upper GI symptoms, but further study is necessary.
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Metadata
Title
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) Improves Upper GI Symptoms and Balances the Sympathovagal Activity in Scleroderma Patients
Authors
Hanaa Sallam
Terry A. McNearney
Dipti Doshi
J. D. Z. Chen
Publication date
01-05-2007
Published in
Digestive Diseases and Sciences / Issue 5/2007
Print ISSN: 0163-2116
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2568
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9257-3

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