Acute effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on passive muscle stiffness and pain in patients with neck pain: a parallel-group randomised controlled trial

Gökhan Yağız; Sena Adanır; Esedullah Akaras; Julian Owen; Aybike Şenel; Ahmet Emre Paksoy

doi:10.47582/jompac.1898441

Acute effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on passive muscle stiffness and pain in patients with neck pain: a parallel-group randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Aims: Neck pain is a prevalent complaint often accompanied by increased cervical muscle stiffness. The aim of this study was to assess the immediate effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), which is widely used for analgesia, on passive muscle stiffness and pain. Methods: This randomised controlled trial was conducted according to CONSORT 2025 guidelines. Twenty-four adults (16 females, 8 males) with neck pain were randomly allocated to either the intervention group (IG) (n=12) or the control group (CG) (n=12). The IG received 20 minutes of bilateral TENS to the upper back and cervical region; the CG remained inactive for the same duration. The level of self-reported neck pain was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Muscle stiffness in the upper, middle, and lower trapezius, sternocleidomastoid (SCM), and cervical extensors was assessed with MyotonPro immediately before and after the intervention. Results: The IG demonstrated significantly greater pain reduction than the CG (change in VAS:-2.83±0.58 vs -0.08±0.29; p<0.001). For muscle stiffness, the IG showed markedly larger decreases than the CG in the lower trapezius (-40.67±25.22 vs -5.17±8.00; p<0.001) and in the SCM (-29.42±18.03 vs -2.28±7.59; p<0.001). Changes in the middle trapezius (p=0.054) and cervical extensor (p=0.072), upper trapezius changes were not significant (p=0.846). Stiffness reductions in the SCM (r=0.722, R²=0.521) and lower trapezius (r=0.681, R²=0.464) strongly predicted pain improvement. Changes in the lower trapezius and SCM stiffness together explained 66.1% of the variance in pain reduction (p<0.001). Conclusion: A single TENS session provides immediate pain relief and reduces stiffness of the SCM and lower trapezius.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Physical Training and Sports, Physical Fitness, Physiotherapy

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Gökhan Yağız ^*
0000-0002-9214-1948
Türkiye

Sena Adanır
0009-0008-0470-2989
Türkiye

Esedullah Akaras
0000-0002-0305-4632
Türkiye

Julian Owen
0000-0002-9609-8422
United Kingdom

Aybike Şenel
0000-0002-1312-5692
Türkiye

Ahmet Emre Paksoy
0000-0002-8333-6137
Türkiye

Publication Date

March 27, 2026

Submission Date

February 26, 2026

Acceptance Date

March 26, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 7 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.47582/jompac.1898441

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA87CH87DH

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Yağız, G., Adanır, S., Akaras, E., Owen, J., Şenel, A., & Paksoy, A. E. (2026). Acute effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on passive muscle stiffness and pain in patients with neck pain: a parallel-group randomised controlled trial. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care, 7(2), 408-414. https://doi.org/10.47582/jompac.1898441

AMA

1.Yağız G, Adanır S, Akaras E, Owen J, Şenel A, Paksoy AE. Acute effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on passive muscle stiffness and pain in patients with neck pain: a parallel-group randomised controlled trial. J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac. 2026;7(2):408-414. doi:10.47582/jompac.1898441

Chicago

Yağız, Gökhan, Sena Adanır, Esedullah Akaras, Julian Owen, Aybike Şenel, and Ahmet Emre Paksoy. 2026. “Acute Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Passive Muscle Stiffness and Pain in Patients With Neck Pain: A Parallel-Group Randomised Controlled Trial”. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care 7 (2): 408-14. https://doi.org/10.47582/jompac.1898441.

EndNote

Yağız G, Adanır S, Akaras E, Owen J, Şenel A, Paksoy AE (March 1, 2026) Acute effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on passive muscle stiffness and pain in patients with neck pain: a parallel-group randomised controlled trial. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care 7 2 408–414.

IEEE

[1]G. Yağız, S. Adanır, E. Akaras, J. Owen, A. Şenel, and A. E. Paksoy, “Acute effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on passive muscle stiffness and pain in patients with neck pain: a parallel-group randomised controlled trial”, J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 408–414, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.47582/jompac.1898441.

ISNAD

Yağız, Gökhan - Adanır, Sena - Akaras, Esedullah - Owen, Julian - Şenel, Aybike - Paksoy, Ahmet Emre. “Acute Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Passive Muscle Stiffness and Pain in Patients With Neck Pain: A Parallel-Group Randomised Controlled Trial”. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care 7/2 (March 1, 2026): 408-414. https://doi.org/10.47582/jompac.1898441.

JAMA

1.Yağız G, Adanır S, Akaras E, Owen J, Şenel A, Paksoy AE. Acute effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on passive muscle stiffness and pain in patients with neck pain: a parallel-group randomised controlled trial. J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac. 2026;7:408–414.

MLA

Yağız, Gökhan, et al. “Acute Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Passive Muscle Stiffness and Pain in Patients With Neck Pain: A Parallel-Group Randomised Controlled Trial”. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care, vol. 7, no. 2, Mar. 2026, pp. 408-14, doi:10.47582/jompac.1898441.

Vancouver

1.Gökhan Yağız, Sena Adanır, Esedullah Akaras, Julian Owen, Aybike Şenel, Ahmet Emre Paksoy. Acute effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on passive muscle stiffness and pain in patients with neck pain: a parallel-group randomised controlled trial. J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac. 2026 Mar. 1;7(2):408-14. doi:10.47582/jompac.1898441