Fibromyalgia TENS in Physical Therapy Study (TIPS): an Embedded Pragmatic Clinical Trial

Phase 3

Completed

• Conditions: Fibromyalgia
• Interventions: Other: PT only; Device: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) with PT

• Registration Number: NCT04683042
• Lead Sponsor: Kathleen Sluka

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine if addition of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) to routine physical therapy improves movement-evoked pain in patients with fibromyalgia (FM).

The study will also determine if addition of TENS to routine physical therapy (PT) improves disease activity and symptoms, increases adherence to physical therapy, increases the likelihood of meeting patient specific functional goals, and reduces medication use.

Detailed Description

This study is a pragmatic clinical trial in outpatient PT practices utilizing cluster randomization by healthcare system and facility size. Sites will be randomized to enroll all eligible and consented participants with FM to TENS with PT, or PT only (no TENS). We are identifying 25-35 clinics across 6 healthcare systems in both rural and urban settings. We will enroll 450 patients that self report a clinician diagnosis of FM. At each site, TENS (or no TENS) will be applied during each visit along with individualized PT treatment specified by the physical therapist. Participants randomized to TENS intervention sites will receive TENS units and electrodes at baseline to be applied to the cervical and lumbar regions. Participants will take the units home and bring the units back to their PT clinic visits with instructions for use at home while active and during their exercises. The physical therapist at each clinic will complete routine documentation of treatment. In addition to the primary and secondary outcomes, Electronic Health Record data variables will be collected as exploratory outcomes. Variables including adherence to treatment will be extracted from each site's Electronic Health Record. Patient-reported assessments will be obtained from the participant's at home the day of their second PT visit (Baseline) and at 30, 60 (primary outcome), 90, and 180 days following enrollment. The primary and secondary outcome assessments will be comparing TENS and no TENS groups in terms of changes from baseline to 60 days.

Participants will be identified after they are referred for PT for treatment of primary fibromyalgia (FM) or chronic pain (pain lasting more than three months). At their first (intake) physical therapy visit, they will be provided information about the study that can be accessed on paper or on-line. They will perform an electronic screening form on the first visit if interested in participating. Participants will provide e-consent after eligibility is confirmed at the initial PT visit. At the second PT visit after e-consent is signed, participants will be provided instructions on logging onto REDCap for data capture and accessing the case report forms. Participants enrolled at a TENS site will then be instructed in use of TENS and the TENS unit with electrodes will be provided. Those participants enrolled at a no TENS site will skip the instruction in use of TENS but will then receive instructions along with the TENS units at day 65. Participants will be instructed to capture all baseline assessments at home before their next PT visit before and following their first TENS treatment (or no TENS) at home (day 1). At 30, 60, 90, and 180 days following enrollment, participants will complete the same assessments at home including pain ratings at rest and with movement along with questionnaires. The primary and secondary outcome assessments will be comparing TENS and no TENS groups in terms of changes from baseline to 60 days.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2020-12-22
• Study First Submitted QC: 2020-12-22
• Study First Posted: 2020-12-24
• Study Start: 2021-01-22
• Primary Completion: 2025-03-11
• Study Completion: 2025-03-11
• Status Verified: 2025-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-05-22
• Last Update Posted: 2025-05-29

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 459

Inclusion Criteria

1. Age 18 until 99.
2. Clinician diagnosis of FM
3. Referred for land-based PT
4. Referred for treatment for FM or chronic pain (pain lasting more than 3 months)
5. Able to provide informed consent.
6. Fluent in reading English
7. Willing to use TENS

Exclusion Criteria

1. Contraindications to TENS use including:

   1. Pacemaker, defibrillator, implanted neurostimulator or implanted device
   2. Epilepsy
   3. Currently pregnant or plan to become pregnant in the next 6 months
   4. Allergic reaction to patches with gel
   5. Current treatment for cancer

2. Currently enrolled in another pain control study

3. Use of TENS within the last 30 days

4. Clinically unstable medical or psychiatric issues

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
No TENS with PT	PT only	The No TENS group will receive usual PT care until the primary endpoint timeframe of 60 days. After completion of the research homework at 60 days, TENS units will be mailed to the participants and a study team member will complete virtual TENS instruction. The no TENS group will complete TENS to the end of the study at 6 months.
TENS with PT	Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) with PT	TENS with PT group: The TENS with PT group will receive usual PT care and following enrollment, during the second PT visit, participants will receive TENS units and instruction on use of the TENS units. TENS will be applied to the upper and lower back with butterfly electrodes using the following parameters: mixed frequency (2-125Hz), strong but comfortable intensity, variable pulse duration from 100-250 microseconds. TENS to be applied when the patient is active and doing exercises at home and during PT sessions for 30 minutes at least 2 hours per day. The TENS with PT group will complete TENS use to the end of the study at 6 months.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Reduction of movement-evoked pain (0-10 Low to High scale) during the Sit and Stand Test	Research Homework before PT Visit 3 (Day 1), Day 60 +/- 5 days Home	Numeric rating scale of 0-10 for reduction of movement-evoked pain measured by 11-point NRS from baseline to 60 days.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
FM Disease activity (FIQR) (0-10 Low to High Scale)	Research Homework before PT Visit 3 (Day 1), Day 60 +/- 5 days Home	21 items used to evaluate function, overall impact, and symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia.
Change in the resting pain score (0 - 10 Low to High scale)	Research Homework before PT Visit 3 (Day 1), Day 60 +/- 5 days Home	The severity of pain will be measured on a 0 to 10 numeric rating scale where 0 is no-pain and 10 is worst pain imaginable.
Resting fatigue (NRS) (0-10 Low to High Scale)	Research Homework before PT Visit 3 (Day 1), Day 60 +/- 5 days Home	The severity of fatigue will be measured with a 0 to 10 scale where 0 is no fatigue and 10 is worst fatigue imaginable.
Pain interference (BPI) (0-10 Low to High Scale)	Research Homework before PT Visit 3 (Day 1), Day 60 +/- 5 days Home	11 items measuring pain severity and interference with daily activities on a 0-10 scale.
Multidimensional assessment of fatigue (MAF) (0-10 Low to High Scale)	Research Homework before PT Visit 3 (Day 1), Day 60 +/- 5 days Home	16 items measuring fatigue according to four dimensions: degree and severity, distress that it causes, timing of fatigue, and impact on various activities of daily living.
Rapid assessment of physical activity (RAPA) (0-10 Low to High Scale)	Research Homework before PT Visit 3 (Day 1), Day 60 +/- 5 days Home	9 items evaluating current level of physical activity.
Patient global impression of change (PGIC) (0-6 Scale)	Day 60 +/- 5 days Home	Evaluates overall health status as perceived by the patient in a seven-point single-item scale ranging from 'very much worse' to 'very much improved'
Movement-evoked fatigue (NRS) (0-10 Low to High Scale)	Research Homework before PT Visit 3 (Day 1), Day 60 +/- 5 days Home	Fatigue during a five times sit and stand test will be measured with a 0 to 10 numeric rating scale with 0 as no fatigue and 10 as the worst fatigue imaginable.

Trial Locations

Locations (6)

University of Illinois at Chicago; 🇺🇸 Chicago, Illinois, United States

Rock Valley Physical Therapy; 🇺🇸 Moline, Illinois, United States

Kepros Physical Therapy and Performance; 🇺🇸 Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States

Genesis Physical Therapy; 🇺🇸 Davenport, Iowa, United States

Big Stone Therapies (BST); 🇺🇸 Big Stone City, South Dakota, United States

Advanced Physical Therapy Sport Medicine; 🇺🇸 Appleton, Wisconsin, United States