Evaluation of the efficiency of TENS therapy to the regeneration in N. ischiadicus injured rats

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is one of the electrotherapy methods, used for physical therapy, to relieve neuropathic pain in the nervous system lesion. However, the effect on peripheral nerve regeneration has been unknown. This work aims to examine peripheral nervous system diseases in which fullness is preserved, the efficiency of TENS to hasten healing, and the suitability of magnetic resonance imaging to diagnose peripheral nervous system diseases. Also, electrophysiologic findings of functional nerve recuperation will be considered after comparing with histopathologic and magnetic resonance imaging. 72 Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups. Group 1; normal without crush lesion, Group 2; control group with crush lesion, Group 3; stimulated group on lesion area, Group 4; stimulated group on gastrocnemius muscle. The animals were sacrificed post-operatively 21. day and 45. day after the electrophysiological, assessment and walking trace analysis, magnetic resonance imaging and nerve samples were obtained for histologic analysis. According to this study, low-frequency TENS leads to delayed regeneration after a crush lesion of the sciatic nerve in rats.