Sternal interferential current stimulation after sternotomy: A randomized, sham-controlled trial on pain and wound healing
Objective: To evaluate the effect and safety of serial interferential current stimulation on postoperative pain and wound healing after sternotomy in cardiac rehabilitation. Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled clinical trial. Subjects/Patients: 200 patients underg...
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Medical Journals Sweden
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://medicaljournalssweden.se/jrm/article/view/43941 |
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| author | Nils Schulz Gian Vo Pascal van Wijnen Tim Wilhelmi Michael Coch Uwe Lange Philipp Klemm |
| author_facet | Nils Schulz Gian Vo Pascal van Wijnen Tim Wilhelmi Michael Coch Uwe Lange Philipp Klemm |
| author_sort | Nils Schulz |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Objective: To evaluate the effect and safety of serial interferential current stimulation on postoperative pain and wound healing after sternotomy in cardiac rehabilitation.
Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled clinical trial.
Subjects/Patients: 200 patients undergoing open-heart surgery via sternotomy were enrolled during inpatient cardiac rehabilitation, 8 to 12 days postoperatively.
Methods: Patients were randomized into an intervention group receiving interferential current stimulation over the sternum (six sessions across 21 days) or a control group receiving sham stimulation. All participants underwent the same standardized cardiac rehabilitation program. The primary outcome was pain reduction over 21 days. Secondary outcomes included analgesic use, inflammatory cytokine levels, pulmonary function, wound healing, and adverse events.
Results: Interferential current stimulation significantly reduced pain scores compared to sham treatment. Analgesic use decreased more in the intervention group. A greater reduction in tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 6 levels was observed. Pulmonary function and quality of life improved in both groups without significant between-group differences. No adverse effects or wound infections occurred in the intervention group.
Conclusion: Serial interferential current stimulation is a safe, effective non-pharmacological therapy for reducing post-sternotomy pain and analgesic use in cardiac rehabilitation. The effect may be mediated by modulation of inflammatory cytokines.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c49b527c33254a77bb5f98f9ec3372ed |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1651-2081 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Medical Journals Sweden |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-c49b527c33254a77bb5f98f9ec3372ed2025-08-20T13:46:58ZengMedical Journals SwedenJournal of Rehabilitation Medicine1651-20812025-08-015710.2340/jrm.v57.43941Sternal interferential current stimulation after sternotomy: A randomized, sham-controlled trial on pain and wound healingNils Schulz0Gian Vo1Pascal van Wijnen2Tim Wilhelmi3Michael Coch4Uwe Lange5Philipp Klemm6Department of Rheumatology, Immunology, Osteology and Physical Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Campus Kerckhoff, Kerckhoff Klinik, Bad Nauheim, GermanyDepartment of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Median-Klinik am Südpark, Bad Nauheim, GermanyDepartment of Rheumatology, Immunology, Osteology and Physical Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Campus Kerckhoff, Kerckhoff Klinik, Bad Nauheim, GermanyDepartment of Rheumatology, Immunology, Osteology and Physical Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Campus Kerckhoff, Kerckhoff Klinik, Bad Nauheim, GermanyDepartment of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Median-Klinik am Südpark, Bad Nauheim, Germany; Department of Cardiology, Hochgebirgsklinik Davos, Davos, SwitzerlandDepartment of Rheumatology, Immunology, Osteology and Physical Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Campus Kerckhoff, Kerckhoff Klinik, Bad Nauheim, GermanyDepartment of Rheumatology, Immunology, Osteology and Physical Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Campus Kerckhoff, Kerckhoff Klinik, Bad Nauheim, Germany Objective: To evaluate the effect and safety of serial interferential current stimulation on postoperative pain and wound healing after sternotomy in cardiac rehabilitation. Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled clinical trial. Subjects/Patients: 200 patients undergoing open-heart surgery via sternotomy were enrolled during inpatient cardiac rehabilitation, 8 to 12 days postoperatively. Methods: Patients were randomized into an intervention group receiving interferential current stimulation over the sternum (six sessions across 21 days) or a control group receiving sham stimulation. All participants underwent the same standardized cardiac rehabilitation program. The primary outcome was pain reduction over 21 days. Secondary outcomes included analgesic use, inflammatory cytokine levels, pulmonary function, wound healing, and adverse events. Results: Interferential current stimulation significantly reduced pain scores compared to sham treatment. Analgesic use decreased more in the intervention group. A greater reduction in tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 6 levels was observed. Pulmonary function and quality of life improved in both groups without significant between-group differences. No adverse effects or wound infections occurred in the intervention group. Conclusion: Serial interferential current stimulation is a safe, effective non-pharmacological therapy for reducing post-sternotomy pain and analgesic use in cardiac rehabilitation. The effect may be mediated by modulation of inflammatory cytokines. https://medicaljournalssweden.se/jrm/article/view/43941Cardiac RehabilitationCytokinesElectric Stimulation TherapyPain ManagementPostoperative PainSternotomy |
| spellingShingle | Nils Schulz Gian Vo Pascal van Wijnen Tim Wilhelmi Michael Coch Uwe Lange Philipp Klemm Sternal interferential current stimulation after sternotomy: A randomized, sham-controlled trial on pain and wound healing Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine Cardiac Rehabilitation Cytokines Electric Stimulation Therapy Pain Management Postoperative Pain Sternotomy |
| title | Sternal interferential current stimulation after sternotomy: A randomized, sham-controlled trial on pain and wound healing |
| title_full | Sternal interferential current stimulation after sternotomy: A randomized, sham-controlled trial on pain and wound healing |
| title_fullStr | Sternal interferential current stimulation after sternotomy: A randomized, sham-controlled trial on pain and wound healing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sternal interferential current stimulation after sternotomy: A randomized, sham-controlled trial on pain and wound healing |
| title_short | Sternal interferential current stimulation after sternotomy: A randomized, sham-controlled trial on pain and wound healing |
| title_sort | sternal interferential current stimulation after sternotomy a randomized sham controlled trial on pain and wound healing |
| topic | Cardiac Rehabilitation Cytokines Electric Stimulation Therapy Pain Management Postoperative Pain Sternotomy |
| url | https://medicaljournalssweden.se/jrm/article/view/43941 |
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