Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Aug 15, 2025
Date Accepted: Jan 5, 2026
Trans-cutaneaous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) vs TENS with music in persistent low back pain: A pilot feasibility trial
ABSTRACT
Background:
Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation (TENS) works on the principle of gate control theory of pain and is used as a nonpharmacological pain management intervention. Music therapy or listening to self-selected music has also been shown to reduce pain intensity, anxiety, and depression. There has been no published literature that have explored if these modalities can work synergistically.
Objective:
To test the feasibility of a clinical trial comparing TENS alone to TENS combined with self-selected music, in participants with persistent spinal pain
Methods:
This will be a prospective, randomised, controlled pilot study to compare TENS alone (control and standard treatment) versus TENS combined with participant self-selected music (intervention). We hope to enrol 20 participants. The participants will be their own controls and the order in with the intervention is delivered will be determined by randomisation.
Results:
Primary outcome will Feasibility of the intervention monitored by adherence rates, dropout rate, percentage of eligible population that consented. Secondary outcomes collected will include pain intensity, Mood using DASS 21, medication consumption, participant satisfaction and adverse reactions
Conclusions:
If the pilot trial is feasible and indicates a positive synergistic trend with TENS and music therapy, the trial will help to inform the feasibility for a larger trial with more varied pain diagnosis including acute and chronic pain. Clinical Trial: ACTRN12625000552482
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