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Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on acupoints relieves labor pain: A non-randomized controlled study

Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine volume 16, pages 234–238 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on four specific acupuncture points Hegu (LI4), Neiguan (PC6), Danshu (BL19) and Weishu (BL21) for reducing pain in labor.

Methods

A total of 160 voluntary nulliparous women who were willing to receive TENS for analgesia were assigned to the treatment group after cervical dilation of more than 2 cm. Another 145 matched nullipara were recruited as the control group. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess the pain before and 0.5 h after the application of TENS. Then, VAS was assessed every one hour until delivery. Percentage of VAS score decreased by > 25% was the primary outcome, the delivery mode and neonatal outcome were measured as secondary outcomes. Adverse reactions were also recorded during TENS.

Results

The percentage of VAS score decreased by > 25% was 68.6% in the TENS treatment group. Maternal delivery mode and neonatal outcomes were not significantly different between the two groups. In addition, the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage in the TENS treatment group was less than the control group (P<0.05). There was no adverse reaction recorded with TENS on acupoints.

Conclusion

As a novel and non-invasive approach, TENS on specific acupoints including Hegu (LI4), Neiguan (PC6), Danshu (BL19) and Weishu (BL21) was an effective method for analgesia in labor.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China

    Ting Peng, Xiao-tian Li, Yu Xiong, Yuan Kang & Hai-dong Cheng

  2. Queensland College of Life Science and Technology University, Queensland, Australia

    Shu-feng Zhou

Authors
  1. Ting Peng
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  2. Xiao-tian Li
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  3. Shu-feng Zhou
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  4. Yu Xiong
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  5. Yuan Kang
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  6. Hai-dong Cheng
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xiao-tian Li.

Additional information

Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30471820) and the Foundation of Shanghai for Key Medical Subjects (No. 05-III 016).

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Peng, T., Li, Xt., Zhou, Sf. et al. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on acupoints relieves labor pain: A non-randomized controlled study. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 16, 234–238 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-010-0234-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-010-0234-9

Keywords

  • labor
  • pain
  • transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
  • acupoint