Comparison of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and interferential therapy for salivary stimulation in postmenopausal women: a pilot study

The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and Interferential Therapy (IFT) to enhance the salivary flow rate in post-menopausal women with oral dryness. This is a randomized pilot study design where the samples were calculated based on convenience sampling method and 15 post-menopausal women aged 45 to 70 were randomly assigned to two parallel groups and Group A received TENS therapy andGroup B received IFT and the salivary flow rate of both unstimulated and stimulated saliva was measured pre and post treatment. Statistical tests including Paired t-test, independent t-test, and two-way ANOVA were carried out which reveals that both TENS and IFT are significantly effective in salivary stimulation in post-menopausal women, however only stimulated salivary flow showed a statistically significant difference between groups, with greater values in the IFT group. The present randomized pilot study demonstrated Interferential therapy's versatility and depth of stimulation, with consistent findings of improved comfort, function, and salivation, suggesting a potential advantage of IFT in stimulated salivary flow; however, because the study was a pilot, results should be interpreted cautiously.