Bakgrund: Vid smärtsamma muskuloskeletalatillstånd är patienten beroende av sjuksköterskans omvårdnadsåtgärder och stöd till smärtlindring. Transkutan elektrisk nervstimulering (TENS) är en icke farmakologisk smärtlindringsmetod som med fördel kan kombineras med analgetiska läkemedel vid både akuta och långvariga smärttillstånd. För att optimera smärtlindringen i vardagen vid långvarig smärta kan patienten utbildas i att använda TENS i sin egenvård. Syfte: Syftet var att beskriva effekten av transkutan elektrisk nervstimulering som en del av smärtbehandlingen för personer med muskuloskeletala smärttillstånd. Metod: Allmän litteraturstudie med induktiv ansats där två kvalitativa artiklar samt sju kvantitativa artiklar granskats. Resultat: I resultatet framkom två teman: TENS effekt vid akut smärtaoch TENS effekt vid långvarig smärta. Resultatet visade att behandling med TENS kunde ge adekvat smärtlindring och var en säker metod med få negativa konsekvenser för patienten. Det framkom även att behandlingen medförde en reducering av intag av analgetiska preparat för patienterna. Patienter som behandlades med TENS visade även på en högre grad av fysisk funktion och psykiskt välbefinnande. Konklusion: För sjuksköterskans omvårdnad av patienter med muskuloskeletala tillstånd ter sig TENS vara en effektiv och säker omvårdnadsåtgärd med fler fördelar än enbart  smärtlindrande effekt. Kunskap och utbildning för sjuksköterskan av denna behandlingsmetod kan ge sjuksköterskan ytterligare verktyg för multimodal omvårdnad av både akut och långvarig smärta. Sjuksköterskans kunskap om TENS ger även möjlighet till patientutbildning och kan stärka patientgruppens möjlighet till egenvård vid smärta. / Background: In painful musculoskeletal conditions, the patient is dependent on the nurse's nursing measures and support for pain relief. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a non-pharmacological pain relief method that can be advantageously combined with analgesic drugs for both acute and long-term pain conditions. To optimize the pain relief in everyday life in the event of long-term pain, the patient can be trained in using TENS in their self-care. Aim: The aim was to describe the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation as part of the pain treatment for people with musculoskeletal pain conditions. Method: A General literature study with inductive approach, where two qualitative articles and seven quantitative articles were examined. Results: The results revealed two themes: TENS effect in acute pain and TENS effect in long lasting pain. The results showed that treatment with TENS could provide adequate pain relief and was a safe method with few negative consequences for the patient. Itwas also found that the treatment resulted in a reduction in the intake of analgesic pharmaceuticals for the patients. Patients treated with TENS also showed a higher degree of physical function and mental well-being. Conclusion: For the nurse's nursing of patients with musculoskeletal conditions, TENS appears to be an effective and safe nursing measure with more benefits than just a pain-relieving effect. Knowledge and training for the nurse of this treatment method can provide the nurse with additional tools for multimodal care of both acute and long lasting pain. The nurse's knowledge of TENS  also provides opportunities for patient education and can strengthen the patient group's opportunities for self-care in case of pain.

Title: Changes in central reactivity during thermal stimulation monitored by electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA) Objectives: The objective of this thesis is to determine whether there are any changes in central reactivity during local thermal stimulation by heat and cold and to compare the effect of analgesic electrical stimulation by TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) applied after single thermal stimuli. The brain activity was scanned from the scalp EEG and the results were evaluated by using sLORETA program. Methods: Twelve young, healthy people over the age of 21 participated in this study. The requirement for the participation in this experiment was good health condition without any neurological or other diagnoses. The electrical activity of the brain was being recorded throughout the whole experiment using a 32-channel EEG cap. The measurement had multiple parts. During the whole experiment, the participants were lying on the therapeutic table and all stimuli were applied locally to the right hand. Firstly, the EEG was recorded while participants were resting with closed eyes for five minutes. Then we realized a measurement of a two-minute long application of electrical stimulation of TENS in above-threshold sensitive intensity, which was individual for each participant. The...

This paper highlights two methods of examining the bovine pancreas by means of ultrasound, with a view to identifying advantages and disadvantages of the two techniques as well as testing and comparing their practicability. The goal is to evaluate the applicability of this intraoperative procedure to large animals - it is quite commonly used on humans - as well as present the resulting findings with regard to the ultrasonographic anatomy of the bovine pancreas. The sample consisted of 15 female beef cattle, none of which displayed evidence of any pancreatopathy based on their medical history, clinical examinations, and laboratory diagnostic testing. Transcutaneous and intraoperative sonographic examinations were performed on all 15 animals.

Context: Knee pain is a common symptom in knee pathology and is associated with alterations in quadriceps activation and movement patterns. Reducing pain through intervention may help reestablish neuromuscular function. The independent effects of knee pain are difficult to examine and unclear. Objective: To investigate the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on quadriceps activation and vertical ground reaction force (VGRF) during walking. Design: Crossover. Setting: Laboratory. Subjects: 15 in the TENS group (10M and 5F, 23.5 ± 2.8 yrs, 70.5 ± 12.5 kg, 178.1 ± 7.4 cm), and 15 in the sham group (10M and 5F, 22.5 ± 2.0 yrs, 72.1 ± 13.7 kg, 177.5 ± 9.3 cm). Interventions: Subjects underwent three experimental conditions (pain, sham, and control). Measurements were recorded across four time points (preinfusion, infusion, treatment, and posttreatment). Hypertonic or isotonic saline, respectively, was infused into the infrapatellar fat pad for 48 minutes (total 7.7 mL). The TENS group received a 20-minute treatment. A sham treatment was administered to the sham group. Main Outcome Measures: Perceived knee pain on a 10-cm visual analog scale, knee extension maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) normalized to body mass, knee extension central activation ratio (CAR), and VGRF. Results: Knee pain peaked at 4 cm during infusion and remained consistent across time in the sham group (F2,28 = 49.90, P < 0.0001), while knee pain gradually decreased to 1.5 cm following TENS treatment (F2,28 = 23.11, P < 0.0001). A group x condition x time interaction was detected for both the MVIC (F6,168 = 2.92, P < 0.01) and CAR (F6,168 = 3.03, P < 0.008) measurements. Post hoc analysis revealed that the infusion of hypertonic saline reduced knee extension MVIC by 29% in the TENS group, and by 26% in the sham group (P < 0.05). However, while the MVIC remained depressed by 26% following sham treatment, the MVIC was found to improve by 12% following TENS treatment (P < 0.05). Similarly, a 10% decrease in CAR was detected in both sham and TENS groups prior to treatment. This 10% deficit held, with a 9% deficit following sham treatment, while the deficit of CAR was improved by 4% following TENS treatment (P < 0.05). For the TENS group, infusion of hypertonic saline changed VGRF at initial loading, midstance, and push-off phase. VGRF was only different at initial loading and push-off phase following TENS treatment. For the sham group however, sham treatment did not restore VGRF, showing alterations in initial loading, midstance, and push-off phase (α = 0.05). Conclusions: Infusion of hypertonic saline increased perceived knee pain, reduced knee extension MVIC, reduced CAR, and altered VGRF over some of stance phase. TENS lessened the deficits in MVIC, CAR, and VGRF, suggesting decreased muscle inhibition and improved movement function.

La neurostimulation périphérique (en anglais transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation ou TENS) est une modalité thérapeutique fréquemment utilisée en réadaptation pour diminuer la douleur. À ce jour, cependant, l’efficacité analgésique du TENS chez les aînés demeure peu documentée. La majorité des études effectuées jusqu’à présent ont été réalisées chez les jeunes adultes ou chez des populations d’âge hétérogènes. La présente étude, un essai croisé randomisé à double insu, avait pour objectif de documenter l’efficacité analgésique du TENS conventionnel et du TENS acupuncture chez les aînés et d’observer si la réponse analgésique de ces deux modalités de TENS entre les aînés et les jeunes adultes est différente. Quinze aînés et quinze jeunes adultes ont participé à l’étude. Les participants étaient évalués à trois occasions distinctes pour recevoir en alternance un TENS conventionnel, un TENS acupuncture et un TENS placebo. Une douleur expérimentale était créée à l’aide d’une thermode de type Peltier, appliquée au niveau de la colonne lombaire pendant deux minutes, période durant laquelle les participants devaient évaluer l’intensité de leur douleur avec une échelle visuelle analogue reliée à un ordinateur (CoVAS). Les mesures de douleur ont été prises avant, pendant et après l’application de chaque type de TENS. Chez les jeunes adultes, lorsque comparée au niveau de douleur initiale, une diminution significative de la douleur a été observée pendant et après l’application du TENS conventionnel et acupuncture. Le TENS conventionnel et acupuncture étaient supérieurs au traitement placebo (toutes les valeurs de p < 0,05). Cependant, chez les aînés, le TENS conventionnel et acupuncture n’ont pas permis de diminuer significativement la douleur. De plus, aucune modalité TENS ne se démarquait du traitement placebo (toutes les valeurs de p > 0,05). Bien que le TENS conventionnel et le TENS acupuncture soient efficaces chez les jeunes adultes, les présents résultats suggèrent que le TENS n’est pas la meilleure option de traitement pour diminuer la douleur chez les aînés, du moins lorsqu’il est utilisé seul (monothérapie). Des études futures, visant à déterminer des façons de bonifier l’effet du TENS chez les aînés, sont nécessaires.

No description available.

A eletroestimulação nervosa transcutânea (ENT) é um recurso que consiste em administrar impulsos ou estímulos elétricos de frequência variável, assimétricos ou simétricos de correntes bifásicas através de eletrodos superficiais aplicados sobre a região dolorosa. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da ENT no alívio da dor na fase ativa da dilatação, no trabalho de parto, e constatar o grau de satisfação das parturientes em relação à experiência vivida durante o estudo. Trata-se de um ensaio clínico randomizado e controlado com 46 parturientes, divididas em grupo controle (GC) e grupo de intervenção (GI). Todas as pacientes eram primigestas, com dilatação cervical de 4 cm, em trabalho de parto espontâneo, com contrações regulares para essa fase, sem uso de drogas ocitócicas ao longo do trabalho de parto, de baixo risco gestacional, com membranas ovulares íntegras e feto único. A aplicação da ENT foi feita pela pesquisadora responsável, fixando dois pares de eletrodos nas regiões paravertebrais, um nas raízes nervosas de T10 a L1 e outro par entre S2 e S4. Os parâmetros utilizados na ENT foram: frequência de 100 Hz, largura de pulso de 100 us, intensidade de acordo com a sensibilidade da paciente e duração da aplicação de 30 minutos contínuos. A avaliação da dor foi realizada imediatamente, antes e após a terapêutica, com a escala categórica numérica (ECN), a escala visual analógica (EVA), o diagrama corporal da localização e Questionário McGill na forma reduzida. No puerpério, além dessas avaliações, o grau de satisfação da paciente com relação à intervenção e a presença de um profissional de saúde durante a fase ativa do trabalho de parto foram pesquisados. Os resultados mostraram que houve diferenças estatísticas significantes entre os dois grupos estudados, com relação à intensidade da dor, após a aplicação da ENT, com apenas 34% das pacientes do GI mantendo a classificação da dor como 7 ou mais, em contraste com 83% das pacientes do GC. Por outro lado, não houve diferenças estatísticas em relação à localização da dor, após a aplicação da ENT. As parturientes do GI ficaram mais satisfeitas com a experiência vivida e com o suporte contínuo recebido, durante o período estudado. Os resultados maternos e perinatais foram semelhantes nos dois grupos estudados. Os resultados encontrados demonstram que a aplicação da ENT, no início da fase ativa do trabalho de parto, alivia a dor das parturientes. Além disso, a presença de suporte contínuo exerce efeito positivo sobre as pacientes submetidas a essa intervenção / The transcutaneous electrical nervous stimulation (TENS) is a resource that consists of administering electrical impulses or stimuli of variable frequency, asymmetric or symmetric of two-phase chains to superficial electrodes applied on the painful region. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of TENS for pain relief during the active phase of cervix dilation in labor and to assess the degree of maternal satisfaction related to the experience during the study. This is a randomized controlled trial with 46 pregnant women, divided into control group (CG) and intervention group (IG). All patients were primiparous with cervical dilation of 4 cm in spontaneous labor with regular contractions for this phase without the use of oxytocic drugs during labor, lowrisk pregnant women with intact membranes and a single fetus. The application of the TENS was made by the researcher in charge, setting two pairs of electrodes in the paravertebral regions, at the level of the nerve roots from T10 to L1 and another pair between S2 to S4. The parameters used in TENS were: frequency 100 Hz, pulse width 100 us, intensity according to the sensitivity of the patient and duration of application of 30 continuous minutes. Pain assessment was performed immediately before and after therapy with the numerical categorical scale (ECN), the visual analogue scale (VAS), the body chart for pain location and the reduced form of McGill Questionnaire. In the puerperium, in addition to these assessments, the level of patient satisfaction related to the intervention and the presence of a health professional during the active phase of labor has been searched. The results showed statistically significant differences between the two groups regarding the intensity of pain following the implementation of the TENS, with only 34% of IG patients maintaining the score of pain as 7 or more, in contrast to 83% of CG patients. On the other hand, no statistical differences related to the location of the pain after the application of TENS. The mothers of the IG were more satisfied with the experience and the ongoing support received during the study period. The maternal and perinatal outcomes were similar in both groups. The results show that the application of TENS in the early active phase of labor relieves maternal pain. Moreover, the presence of ongoing support has a positive effect on patients undergoing this intervention

Durante a amamentação ocorre a liberação de ocitocina para a ejeção do leite, que desencadeia a contração uterina, associada a processo doloroso. A Eletroestimulação Nervosa Trânscutânea (TENS) é um recurso fisioterapêutico que tem como função o alívio da dor. O objetivo principal deste estudo foi avaliar a efetividade da TENS para alívio de dor de contração uterina durante a amamentação em multíparas após o parto vaginal. Como objetivo específico visou mensurar e caracterizar a dor de contração uterina e identificar queixas álgicas durante a amamentação. Trata-se de um estudo clínico controlado e randomizado, composto por 32 multíparas após o parto vaginal, durante a amamentação. O estudo foi desenvolvido dentro dos padrões éticos, sendo aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto - USP. O estudo foi realizado em uma maternidade no interior do estado de São Paulo. As participantes foram alocadas de maneira aleatória, no alojamento conjunto. As participantes foram divididas em dois grupos, o grupo experimental (GE) que recebeu a aplicação de TENS convencional e o grupo controle (GC). Para o GE os eletrodos da TENS convencional foram posicionados na região paravertebral (T10-L1 e S2- S4), programado para gerar frequência de 80Hz, duração de pulso de 100?s e amplitude ajustada para produzir sensação forte e tolerável. O aparelho foi aplicado por 40 minutos. As puérperas foram avaliadas pela Escala de Categoria Numérica (NRS) e pela Intensidade de Dor Presente (PPI), em duas mamadas, correspondentes a primeira e segunda avaliação. Durante a primeira avaliação as puérperas foram questionadas quanto as características da dor e a presença de outras queixas dolorosas. Na segunda avaliação, o GE recebeu a TENS convencional durante a amamentação e o GC foi apenas acompanhado pelo mesmo período. Após a retirada da TENS do GE e acompanhamento do GC, as mulheres foram questionadas novamente em relação ao nível de dor. Ao final, as puérperas do GE responderam sobre a satisfação do tratamento e desconforto da corrente. Foi realizada análise descritiva para apresentação dos dados e análise comparativa entre os grupos, por meio de teste nãoparamétrico, com nível de significância p<=0,05. A dor de contração uterina apresentou as seguintes características: profunda, localizada em região de baixo ventre e ritmada. O início e diminuição da dor associaram-se com o início e término da sucção, respectivamente. As queixas dolorosas associadas foram dor nas mamas, na região perineal, nos membros superiores e inferiores, na região cervical e na coluna. O PPI indicou que as maiorias das participantes tiveram dor avaliada como moderada e o nível de dor pela NRS foi de 5,53. Na análise intragrupo o GE apresentou redução significativa da dor pela NRS (p<0,0001) após o uso da TENS. O GC também mostrou redução significativa da dor entre a primeira e segunda avaliação (p=0,04). Na análise intergrupo, o GE teve redução significativa da dor pelo PPI (p<0,001) e pela NRS (p<0,01) quando comparado ao GC. As puérperas que utilizaram a TENS relataram estar muito satisfeitas ou satisfeitas com o recurso, utilizariam a técnica em puerpério futuro e não sentiram desconforto causado pela corrente da TENS convencional. A intervenção não causou nenhum tipo de efeitos adversos e colaterais no GE. A TENS convencional foi eficaz no alívio de dor de contração uterina após o parto e durante a amamentação, podendo ser método de escolha para alívio deste tipo de dor. / During breastfeeding occurs the release of oxytocin for milk ejection, that cause uterine contractions associated with painful process. The transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a physical therapy resource, which aims to pain relief. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of TENS to relief of painful uterine contraction during lactation in multiparous after vaginal delivery. The specific objectives were to measure and characterize the uterine contraction pain and identify pain complaints during breastfeeding. This is a randomized, controlled clinical study, formed by 32 multiparous after vaginal delivery, during breastfeeding. The study was conducted with ethical standards and was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Nursing School of Ribeirão Preto - USP. The study was accomplished in a maternity hospital in the state of São Paulo. The participants were placed randomly. The participants were divided in two groups, the experimental group (EG) received the application of conventional TENS and the control group (CG). For EG, the electrodes were placed in the paravertebral region (T10-L1 and S2-S4), programmed to generate frequency of 80Hz, pulse duration of 100?s and intensity adjusted to cause strong feeling and tolerable. The device was applied for 40 minutes. The women were evaluated by Category Numeric Scale (NRS) and Present Pain Intensity (PPI), in two feedings, corresponding to the first and second evaluation. During the first assessment women were asked about pain characteristics and the presence of other pain complaints. In the second evaluation, EG received conventional TENS during breastfeeding and the CG were only accompanied by the same period. After remove the conventional TENS of the EG and monitoring the CG, the women were asked again in relation to the level of pain. In the end, the participants of the EG responded about treatment satisfaction and discomfort of the current. Descriptive analysis was performed for the presentation of data and comparative analysis between the groups, using non-parametric test, with significance level p <= 0.05. The painful uterine contraction had the following characteristics: deep, located in a lower abdomen and rhythmic. The onset and decreased pain associated with the start and end suction, respectively. The pain complaints were breast pain, perineal, in upper extremity, lower extremity, neck and spine. The PPI indicated that the most participants were assessed as moderate pain and pain level was 5.53 for the NRS. In the EG intragroup analysis showed a significant reduction of pain by the NRS (p <0.0001) after use of TENS. The GC also showed significant reduction in pain between the first and second evaluation (p = 0.04). In the intergroup analysis, the EG had significant reduction in pain by the PPI (p <0.001) and the NRS (p <0.01) when compared to CG. The women who used TENS reported being very satisfied or satisfied with the resource, using the technique in future puerperium and felt no discomfort caused by the current of conventional TENS. The intervention did not cause any adverse effects and side effects in EG. The conventional TENS was effective in relieving of uterine contraction pain after delivery and during breastfeeding, may be the method of choice for this type of pain relief.

Introdução: A estimulação elétrica nervosa transcutânea (TENS) é uma modalidade terapêutica analgésica, não invasiva e que não apresenta interação com medicamentos. É definida como qualquer dispositivo de estimulação que emita correntes elétricas através da superfície intacta da pele. É utilizada por fisioterapeutas para o manejo sintomático de dor aguda ou crônica em locais de atendimento à saúde. Objetivo: Avaliar os efeitos da estimulação elétrica nervosa transcutânea de baixa e alta frequência sobre o abdome gravídico da camundonga Swiss durante toda a prenhez. Métodos: Trinta camundongas prenhas, pesando 20 a 36 gramas, da linhagem Swiss, foram divididas ao acaso em três grupos (n=10): grupo placebo (P), onde os animais foram submetidos à simulação da eletroestimulação com o aparelho devidamente desligado, diariamente por 20 minutos, a partir do dia zero até o 20° dia da prenhez; grupo experimental baixa frequência (BF), onde os animais foram submetidos ao tratamento por eletroestimulação diariamente por 20 minutos, a partir do dia zero até o 20° dia da prenhez com o aparelho previamente programado com os seguintes parâmetros: frequência baixa de 10 Hertz (Hz), duração de pulso de 200 microssegundos (?s) e a intensidade sensorial foi considerada a partir de 2.0 miliamperes (mA); grupo experimental alta frequência (AF), no qual os animais foram submetidos ao tratamento da eletroestimulação diariamente por 20 minutos, a partir do dia zero até o 20° dia da prenhez com o aparelho previamente programado com os seguintes parâmetros: frequência alta de 150 Hz, duração de pulso de 200 ?s e a intensidade sensorial foi considerada a partir de 2.0 mA. As camundongas foram pesadas no dia zero, 7°, 14° e 20° dia para verificar o ganho ponderal semanal. No 20º dia as camundongas do grupo P, BF e AF foram anestesiados com xilazina e ketamina na dosagem de 0,1 mg/kg e 0,2 mg/kg, respectivamente, e sacrificadas para verificar o número de implantações, reabsorções, de fetos, de placentas e malformações fetais maiores e externas. Resultados: Não houve diferenças estatisticamente significantes ao analisar os ganhos ponderais semanais das matrizes (zero, sétimo, 14° e 20°), número de fetos, placentas, reabsorções, implantações e malformações comparando os dados do grupo placebo e os experimentais. Conclusões: As camundongas submetidas ao tratamento com a TENS de baixa e alta frequência, sobre o abdome gravídico, não apresentaram efeitos deletérios ou teratogênicos / Introduction: The transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) is a non-invasive analgesic therapeutic modality, and does not present interaction with drugs. It is defined as any stimulation device that transmits electrical currents through the intact skin surface. It is used by physical therapists for the symptomatic management of acute or chronic pain of benign origin in health care facilities. Aim: To assess the effects of low and high frequencies of Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation (TENS) on the pregnant abdomen of albine female mice over the pregnancy period. Methods: Thirty pregnant mice, weighting between 20 to 36 grams, of the Swiss lineage were randomly divided in three groups (n=10): Placebo group (P), in which the animals were submitted to a daily electric stimulation treatment with the device unplugged, for 20 minutes, from day zero until the 20th day of pregnancy; Low Frequency Experimental group (LF), in which the animals were submitted to a daily electric stimulation treatment, for 20 minutes, from day zero until the 20th day of pregnancy and the device was previously set up with the following parameters: low frequency 10 Hertz (Hz), 200 microseconds pulse (?s) length and the sensorial intensity will be considered from 2.0 milliamperes (mA) and up, High Frequency Experimental group (HF), in which the animals were submitted to a daily electric stimulation treatment for 20 minutes from day zero until the 20th day of pregnancy and the device was set up with the following parameters: high frequency 150 Hz, 200 ?s length and the sensorial intensity will be considered from 2.0 mA and up. The mice were weighed on day zero, 7th, 14th and 20th days in order to check the weekly pondered weight gain. On the 20th day the mice of the P, LF and HF groups were anesthetized with xylazine and ketamine with a dosage of 0,1 mg/kg and 0,2 mg/kg, respectively. After that, the mice were sacrificed in order to check the number of implantations, reabsorptions, fetus, placenta and major and external fetal malformations. Results: There were no significant statistic differences when analyzing the weekly pondered gain of the matrices (zero, 7th, 14th, 20th), number of fetus, placenta, reabsorptions, implantations and malformations and comparing data of the placebo group to the experimental groups. Conclusions: The mice submitted to the low and high frequency TENS treatment on the pregnant abdomen do not presented neither deleterious nor teratogen effects

A artrite reumatóide é uma doença inflamatória crônica associada a alta morbidade, perda da produtividade e redução da expectativa de vida. Os pacientes requerem uma atendimento multidisciplinar para o controle da doença, reduzindo a inflamação e prevenindo a atrofia e deformação articulares. A estimulação elétrica nervosa transcutânea (TENS) tem se demonstrado no controle da dor articular, mas ainda há controvérsias sobre sua eficácia na reabilitação funcional da mão nesses pacientes. Este é um estudo cego, placebo-controlado, cruzado para comparar parâmetros funcionas da mobilidade da mão em pacientes com artrite reumatóide antes, durante e ao final de um período de 12 semanas de aplicação de TENS-burst em pontos sensitivos do membro superior. Na aplicação terapêutica utilizou-se intensidade de corrente de 10mA para estimulação das articulações metacarpofalangeanas e 20mA para os pontos sensorias do braço. Após uma pausa de um mês no tratamento, os pacientes que inicialmente receberam a estimulação terapêutica passaram a receber a estimulação placebo e vice-versa. Os resultados mostraram que a eletroestimulação terapêutica produziu mudanças positivas graduais e lineares na reabilitação funcional da mão analisado-se parâmetros de força e precisão de preensão das mãos, levando os pacientes à uma independência na execução de atividade de vida diária. O tratamento placebo mostrou-se ineficiente para a recuperação dos parâmetros avaliados. As habilidades conquistadas pelos pacientes que receberam inicialmente a eletroestimulação terapêutica foram perdidas durante o período de repouso, sugerindo que a manutenção da função da mão depende da continuidade do tratamento ao longo do tempo / Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with high morbidity, loss of productivity and reduced life expectancy. Patients require multidisciplinary treatment to control the disease by reducing inflammation and preventing atrophy and joint deformation. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS-burst) has been shown to control joint pain, but there is still controversy about its efficacy in functional hand rehabilitation in these patients. This is a blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study to compare the functional parameters of the mobility of the hand in rheumatoid arthritis patients before, during and after a period of 12 weeks of application of TENS- burst in the sensory points of the arm and metacarpophalangeal joints . In therapeutic application we used a current of 10mA for stimulation of joints and 20mA for the sensory points of the arm. After a month-long pause in treatment, patients who initially received therapy stimulation began receiving the placebo stimulation and vice versa. The results showed that therapeutic electrical stimulation produced gradual and linear positive changes in functional rehabilitation of the hand, accessed by analysis of strength and accuracy parameters of prehension, leading patients to independence in performing their daily living activities. The placebo treatment was inefficient for the recovery of the parameters evaluated. Skills achieved by patients who initially received therapeutic TENS-burst were lost during the rest (washing out) period, suggesting that the maintenance of hand function in rheumatoid artherits patients depends on the continuity of TENS-burst treatment