Complaints of low back pain with or without irradiation are the second most common reason why workers seek healthcare assistance.1 The main aims of low back pain treatment are to reduce the pain and improve functional capability, while bearing in mind that these effects only occur through exercises that are linked to other resources.2,3 In some patients, however, the pain induces significant limitations on physical capability and impedes exercising. If the pain is under control, patients will be more capable of carrying out the program of activities. This provides justification for using electrotherapy.4,5
Electrotherapy, which is a noninvasive, non-pharmacological method involving transcutaneous electrical stimulation, is an additional alternative for low back pain management. The electrotherapy methods most used in clinical practice are transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and interferential currents (IFC).6
Many researchers have investigated the effectiveness of TENS for treating chronic low back pain.7-11 However, most studies have not found statistically meaningful results, in comparison with placebo groups.11
Some studies on IFC application have been performed, to investigate its effects on induced pain12,13 and in relation to different diseases.14-16 Nonetheless, in relation to application for low back pain, there is lack of investigations17-21 and its effects remain unexplained.
Recently, some studies were conducted to compare the analgesic effects of TENS and IFC among healthy individuals with induced pain. No meaningful differences between them were found.13 These studies advocated continual use of electric currents for pain relief. However, we were unable to find any studies comparing these two techniques for treating chronic low back pain.