Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Gait Parameters in Dogs with Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Simple Summary Although scientific evidence for treatment efficacy is lacking, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is used in dogs as a pain-relieving treatment. This randomised single-blinded cross-over study aims to investigate whether treatment with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation will affect gait parameters in dogs with osteoarthritis. Fifteen dogs were included in the study, and all dogs were over one year of age, lame, and had chronic pain for more than three months. The dogs were treated with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for seven or ten days, and their gait pattern in trot was evaluated with a pressure-sensitive mat. In the present study, no significant differences were seen between transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and placebo treatments for any of the gait parameters evaluated by the pressure-sensitive mat. Further studies are needed to confirm the observations.Abstract Osteoarthritis is a common degenerative disease in dogs, often manifested as pain, joint swelling, and lameness. Despite the lack of scientific evidence for its treatment efficacy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is used in dogs as a pain-relieving treatment. This randomised single-blinded cross-over study investigated the effect of TENS on gait parameters in fifteen dogs with osteoarthritis. Stance time, swing time, stride time, stride length, peak vertical force (%BW), vertical impulse (%BW*sec), and symmetry indices were obtained using a pressure-sensitive mat. TENS treatment of 80 Hz and 100 mu s with an individually selected amplitude was conducted for 45 min once daily for a treatment period of seven or ten days. No significant differences were seen between TENS and placebo for any of the gait parameters. Hence, in this study, TENS did not affect gait parameters, compared to placebo. Further studies are needed to confirm the observations.

Keywords

TENS; pressure sensitive mat; locomotion; lameness; electrotherapy; kinetic; canine; pain; rehabilitation; musculoskeletal system

Published in

Animals
2024, volume: 14, number: 11, article number: 1626
Publisher: MDPI

SLU Authors

• Pedersen, Anja

  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Forterre, Franck

  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Penell, Johanna

  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Bergh, Anna

  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Clinical Science

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111626

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/131108