LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Comments on “Efficacy of diadynamic currents in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain: a systematic review”
 
More details
Hide details
1
Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
 
2
Physiotherapeutic Resources Research Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Paulo, Brazil
 
 
Submission date: 2023-09-04
 
 
Acceptance date: 2023-09-04
 
 
Publication date: 2023-12-19
 
 
Physiother Quart. 2023;31(4):107-108
 
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Diadinamic currents (DDCs) are electrotherapy modalities available for musculoskeletal pain management. The aim of this study is to offer quantitative evidence to supplement the systematic review of DDCs for musculoskeletal pain. Method: A meta-analysis was performed using the studies included in the systematic review titled "Efficacy of Diadynamic Currents in the Treatment of Musculoskeletal Pain". The meta-analysis involved grouping the results related to the primary outcome, which is the assessment of pain intensity, utilizing both the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). Results: The pooled effect demonstrates a reduction in pain levels for both the VAS and the NPRS, with values of -0.83cm (95% CI: -1.9.0.2) and -0.78 points (95% CI: -1.2-0.4), respectively. However, statistically significant differences were only observed for the NPRS. These results align with clinically meaningful differences, particularly in the case of NPRS. Conclusion: While randomized clinical trials report the efficacy of DDCs, the quantitative analysis suggests that the evidence is inconclusive when comparing the two evaluated scales. Furthermore, DDCs appear to be a clinically viable alternative that is equivalent to transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).
 
REFERENCES (6)
1.
Ortiz HA de la B, Cofré C, López C, Montecinos I. Efficacy of diadynamic currents in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain: a systematic review. Physiother Quart. 2023;31(3):1–19; doi: 10.5114/pq.2023.117021.
 
2.
Chiarotto A, Maxwell LJ, Ostelo RW, Boers M, Tugwell P, Terwee CB. Measurement properties of visual analogue scale, numeric rating scale, and pain severity subscale of the brief pain inventory in patients with low back pain: a systematic review. J Pain. 2019;20(3):245–263; doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2018.07.009.
 
3.
DerSimonian R, Laird N. Meta-analysis in clinical trials revisited. Contemp Clin Trials. 2015;45(Pt A):139–145; doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2015.09.002.
 
4.
Gomes CAFP, Dibai-Filho AV, Politti F, Gonzalez TO, Biasotto-Gonzalez DA. Combined use of diadynamic currents and manual therapy on myofascial trigger points in patients with shoulder impingement syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2018;41(6):475–482; doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2017.10.017.
 
5.
Dibai-Filho AV, de Oliveira AK, Girasol CE, Dias FRC, Guirro RRJ. Additional effect of static ultrasound and diadynamic currents on myofascial trigger points in a manual therapy program for patients with chronic neck pain: a randomized clinical trial. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2017;96(4):243–252; doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000000595.
 
6.
Salaffi F, Stancati A, Silvestri CA, Ciapetti A, Grassi W. Minimal clinically important changes in chronic musculoskeletal pain intensity measured on a numerical rating scale. Eur J Pain Lond Engl. agosto de 2004;8(4):283–291; doi: 10.1016/j.ejpain.2003.09.004.
 
eISSN:2544-4395
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top