Electrical Stimulations on Pain, Functional Capacity and Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis
Condition: Multiple Sclerosis
MeSH terms: Multiple Sclerosis; Sclerosis
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease with local inflammation, gliosis
      and demyelination in the central nervous system (CNS). It is characterized by demyelinating
      plaques in the brain and spinal cord. Many different symptoms can be seen in the CNS,
      depending on the affected areas. One of the most common symptoms in these patients is pain.
      Approximately 50% of patients complain of pain at some point in their lives, and pain is one
      of the initial symptoms in 20%. Pain may originate from the musculoskeletal system; It may
      also develop due to inflammation and upper motor neuron damage and may have a neuropathic
      character . In conclusion, pain in MS negatively affects the physical and emotional functions
      and quality of life of patients.

      In addition to pharmacological treatments, non-pharmacological interventions such as
      electrotherapy and exercise are present among the available treatments for pain in MS
      patients.
    

Detailed description: 
      In electrotherapy applications, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is defined
      as a method of applying high-frequency low-intensity electric current to the nervous system
      through superficial electrodes placed on the painful area or the nerve innervating that area,
      used all over the world in the treatment of pain, FDA approved in the United States.

      Its effectiveness is thought to be the result of a combination of effects such as stimulation
      of large-scale afferent fibers that inhibit the activity of primary afferent pain neurons or
      endogenous opioid-dependent mechanisms including the release of dynorphins, enkephalins and
      endorphins in the central nervous system .

      Interferential current are medium frequency currents. The analgesic effect of this current is
      based on the gate control theory. The disadvantage compared to TENS is that it provides lower
      neural adaptations with higher currents.

      As a result of this study, it is thought that the determination of effective treatment
      methods for pain, which is one of the common symptoms of MS patients, will increase the
      functional capacity and quality of life of the patient.

      In the study, patients who meet the inclusion criteria will be divided into 2 groups by
      randomization, TENS will be applied to the 1st group, and interference current will be
      applied to the 2nd group. Applications will be applied for 4 weeks, 5 days a week.
      Evaluations will be made by a blind physiotherapist twice, before and after the treatment.
      Assessments include sociodemographic information, pain, functional capacity, and quality of
      life.

      In addition to the studies in the literature, this study will be the first to compare the
      effectiveness of different electrical stimulations in pain in MS.
    

Intervention name(s): Electrotherapy
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): Applications will be applied for 4 weeks, 5 days a week
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: pain; functional capacity; Quality of life; electrotherapy