Neuropediatrics 2011; 42 - V13
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1273962

TENS therapy in tension headaches – little helps much?!

MK Bernhard 1, M Himpel 1, S Syrbe 1, L Mirjam 2, A Merkenschlager 1
  • 1Universitätskinderklinik, Neuropädiatrische Abteilung, Leipzig, Germany
  • 2von Haunersche Kinderklinik, München, Germany

Aims: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) demonstrates a non-medicamentous alternative therapy of headaches in children and adolescents.

Methods: Children and adolescents suffering from tension headaches were examined and evaluated before, during and after therapy with TENS. Additionally all patients participated in a questionaire survey that asked for a subjective evaluation after therapy was finished.

Results: 95 patients (31% male, 69% female) aged between 7–18 years (median 13 years) were treated with Nova-TENS devices (stimulation frequency 85Hz, pulse duration 180ms, average intensity 12 mA). Adverse effects (mainly increase of headaches, regional redness, itching and local pain) were reported in 35% of the patients leading to discontinuation of treatment in two cases. The monthly frequency of headaches before therapy was 10 on average, after treatment 4.75 (p<0.001). Clinical improvement was assessed in 63% of the patients (episodic tension headaches 83%, chronic tension headaches 28%). Subjective betterment of the headaches was noticed by 69% of the patients. TENS application was recommended 90 times monthly; however, the TENS devices recorded only 11.8 applications per month on average (median 8.0). There were no correlations between effective application frequency (p=0.103) and the reduction of headaches and the risk of relapses after therapy (p=0.46) but a weak correlation was found between the total period of application and reduction of monthly headache frequency (R=0.25 with p=0.006). Compliance was independent of age. Adverse effects did not affect the subjective success of the therapy (p=0.378).

Discussion: TENS is an effective alternative therapy as headaches are reduced in 63–69% of the patients (in particular in episodic tension headaches compared to chronic tension headaches). The success rate does not correlate with the application frequency. An individual concept should be aimed for each patient instead of fixed therapy regimens.