COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTS OF NERVUS VAGUS STIMULATION, TENS, AND BACKUP STIMULATION DEVICE ON THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AND PAIN IN FIBROMYALGIA PATIENTS

Gülay Yalçın; Rukiye Kayış; Esra Beceni; Sevinç Külekçioğlu

doi:10.21653/tjpr.1483952

COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTS OF NERVUS VAGUS STIMULATION, TENS, AND BACKUP STIMULATION DEVICE ON THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AND PAIN IN FIBROMYALGIA PATIENTS

Authors : Gülay Yalçın, Rukiye Kayış, Esra Beceni, Sevinç Külekçioğlu

Pages : 222-231

Doi:10.21653/tjpr.1483952

View : 73 | Download : 103

Publication Date : 2025-09-22

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Purpose: This study aimed to compare the acute effects of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and the backup stimulation device (Backup) on pain, sympathetic, and parasympathetic nervous system functions in fibromyalgia patients. Methods: Thirty fibromyalgia patients (aged 20-45) from a hospital in Bursa were randomly assigned to three groups: VNS, TENS, and Backup stimulation device. Each group received a 30-minute session once weekly for five sessions. Pain was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS), and sympathetic and parasympathetic functions were measured with the Elite heart rate variability device. Parameters included heart rate, root mean square of successive differences, proportion of NN50 divided by total RR intervals, low-frequency/high-frequency (LF/HF) power, and LF/HF ratio. Results: No significant post-intervention changes were found in autonomic parameters across groups (p>0.05). However, all groups showed a significant reduction in VAS scores (p<0.05), indicating effective pain relief. Heart rate significantly decreased only in the Backup group (p<0.05), suggesting a shift toward parasympathetic dominance. Between-group analysis revealed significant differences in VAS scores between the TENS and VNS groups, and the VNS and Backup groups (p<0.05), indicating variability in pain response. Conclusion: TENS, VNS, and Backup stimulation devices effectively reduce pain in fibromyalgia patients. The heart rate reduction in the Backup group suggests a potential effect on autonomic regulation, which may offer a beneficial approach for managing fibromyalgia symptoms. Although autonomic parameters showed no significant changes overall, further research is needed to understand the long-term effects and clinical relevance of these treatments.
Keywords : Otonom sinir sistemi, Fibromiyalji, Nervus vagus uyarımı, Ağrı

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