Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in postoperative rehabilitation of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is a common knee injury, and pain management and functional recovery after its reconstruction is an important part of the rehabilitation process. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), as a non-invasive method of pain management, has been widely used in a variety of clinical scenarios, especially during postoperative recovery. This review studies the application of TENS in ACL postoperative rehabilitation and analyses its effects on pain control, functional recovery and patient satisfaction. The results showed that TENS significantly reduced postoperative pain after, and ACL reduced patients' need for opioids. It also has a positive effect on functional recovery. So, TENS as a pain management modality shows potential in postoperative rehabilitation after ACL, especially in pain management and early functional recovery. Nevertheless, the optimal parameter settings (e.g., frequency, intensity, and treatment duration) and long-term effects of TENS remain controversial. Future studies need to explore the optimal application parameters and evaluate its long-term effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.