Effectiveness of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and Interferential Current in Chronic Neck Pain

A study testing TENS and IFC in people with Neck Pain, run by Beylikduzu State Hospital.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Trial summary

The aim of this study was to determine and compare the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), interferential current (IFC), and sham therapy in patients with chronic neck pain. A total of 57 patients diagnosed with chronic mechanical neck pain were included in the study. Read more about this study

Who is it for?: Ages 18 to 60 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for: Neck Pain
What is being tested?: TENS and IFC
Type of treatment: Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?: Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people: 57 participants
Where: No sites listed yet
Study dates: 1 Jan 2015to 1 May 2015
Phase: Interventional
Are there results?: None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

Ages 18 to 60 years
All sexes
Healthy volunteers accepted
Adult

The inclusion criteria:

having neck pain for more than six months,
being between 18 and 60 years of age,
having sufficient cognitive capacity to complete the study questionnaires,
being functionally able to participate in an outpatient physical therapy program
voluntarily agreeing to participate in the study.

The exclusion criteria:

the presence of motor deficits due to neurological involvement;
neurological conditions causing dizziness or balance loss;
congenital pathology of the cervical spine;
uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or hypertension; any contraindication to electrotherapy (such as pregnancy, severe arrhythmia, pacemaker, active infection, or skin lesions);
having received physical therapy or injection treatment for the neck region within the past year;
the presence of any connective tissue or rheumatologic disease (such as seronegative spondyloarthropathies or rheumatoid arthritis);
the presence of a mass lesion in the cervical spine or neck region;
a history of cervical spine fracture; and
the presence of psychiatric or cognitive disorders.

About this study

Official title: Comparison of the Therapeutic Effectiveness of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and Interferential Current in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind Study

A total of 57 patients diagnosed with chronic mechanical neck pain were included in the study. Patients were randomized into three groups. Each group received 10 sessions of physiotherapy over a two-week period: one group received conventional TENS, one group received IFC, and one group received sham therapy. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), disability and functionality using the Copenhagen Neck Disability Index, quality of life using the SF-36, depression using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and pain characteristics using the SF-McGill Pain Questionnaire.

Conditions: Neck Pain
Being tested: TENS, IFC, Sham electrotherapy
Medical subject headings: Neck Pain

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

TENSDevice
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) was applied to the cervical region using four electrodes. Treatment was administered using a FİZYOMED FİZYOTENS-4000 device in conventional mode with a stimulation frequency of 40 Hz and a pulse duration of 100 μs. Each session lasted 20 minutes. Treatment was administered for 10 sessions over 2 weeks. Participants also received a home exercise program and education on protective techniques.
IFCDevice
Interferential current (IFC) therapy was applied to the cervical region using four electrodes and an ET 3000 combined electrotherapy device. Treatment was administered with a carrier frequency of 4000 Hz, a stimulation frequency of 40 Hz, and an amplitude-modulated frequency (AMF) of 40 Hz using a 1/1 rectangular spectrum. Each session lasted 20 minutes. Treatment was administered for 10 sessions over 2 weeks. Participants also received a home exercise program and education on protective techniques.
Sham electrotherapyOther
Sham electrotherapy was applied to the cervical region using four electrodes. The electrotherapy device was turned on, but no electrical current was delivered. Each sham treatment session lasted 20 minutes. Treatment was administered for 10 sessions over 2 weeks. Participants also received a home exercise program and education on protective techniques.

Study groups in NCT07780747
Study group	Role	What they receive
patients who received TENS for chronic neck pain	Experimental	Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) was applied to the cervical region using four electrodes. Treatment was administered using a FİZYOMED FİZYOTENS-4000 device in conventional mode with a stimulation frequency of 40 Hz and a pulse duration of 100 μs. Each session lasted 20 minutes. Treatment was administered for 10 sessions over 2 weeks. Participants also received a home exercise program and education on protective techniques. Receives: Device: TENS
patients who received IFC for chronic neck pain	Experimental	Interferential current (IFC) therapy was applied to the cervical region using four electrodes and an ET 3000 combined electrotherapy device. Treatment was administered with a carrier frequency of 4000 Hz, a stimulation frequency of 40 Hz, and an amplitude-modulated frequency (AMF) of 40 Hz using a 1/1 rectangular spectrum. Each session lasted 20 minutes. Treatment was administered for 10 sessions over 2 weeks. Participants also received a home exercise program and education on protective techniques. Receives: Device: IFC
Control	Sham comparator	Sham electrotherapy was applied to the cervical region using four electrodes. The electrotherapy device was turned on, but no electrical current was delivered. Each sham treatment session lasted 20 minutes. Treatment was administered for 10 sessions over 2 weeks. Participants also received a home exercise program and education on protective techniques. Receives: Other: Sham electrotherapy

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ):
The SF-MPQ, developed by Melzack in 1987 and validated in Turkish by Yakut et al., is widely used to assess pain. It evaluates sensory, affective, and total pain dimensions, along with VAS and Present Pain Intensity (PPI). The questionnaire consists of 15 descriptors (11 sensory and 4 affective), each scored from 0 (none) to 3 (severe), yielding sensory, affective, and total pain scores. PPI is assessed using a 6-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 5 (unbearable pain)
Measured: Baseline, 3th weeks

Secondary outcomes (3)

Beck Depression Inventory (BDI):
The BDI was developed by Beck et al., and its Turkish validity and reliability have been established. The total score ranges from 0 to 63, with 0-21 indicating mild, 21-42 moderate, and 42-63 severe depression.
Measured: Baseline, 3th weeks
Copenhagen Neck Functional Disability Index (CNFDI): Copenhagen Neck Functional Disability Index (CNFDI):
The CNFDI was developed by Jordan et al. in 1998, and its Turkish version was validated by Yapalı et al. It consists of 15 items assessing pain intensity and its impact on daily activities, social interaction, and functional disability. Total scores range from 0 to 30.
Measured: Baseline, 3th weeks
Short Form-36 (SF-36)
The Turkish version of SF-36 was validated by Koçyiğit et al. It consists of 36 items and 8 subscales assessing physical and mental health: physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role emotional, and mental health.
Measured: Baseline, 3th weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

1 Jan 20151 May 2015

First posted21 Aug 2026
Study start1 Jan 2015
Primary completion1 May 2015
Study completion1 May 2015

Resources

Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
Other trials for Neck PainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design

Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase N/A
Primary purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomised
Intervention model: Parallel groups
Masking: Single blind
Who is masked: Outcomes assessor
Enrolment: 57 participants (actual)

IDs, dates and publications

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT07780747
Sponsor's protocol ID: bdh2000
Status last verified: Aug 2026
First submitted: 15 Aug 2026
Last updated: 21 Aug 2026
Results posted: No
FDA-regulated drug: No
FDA-regulated device: No

Want to know more?

The sponsor has not listed a contact. The official record may have more details.

Talk to your doctor first and take this page with you. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

Questions to ask the study team

What is the study trying to find out?
What would I need to do, and how often would I visit?
Could I receive a placebo instead of the treatment?
What are the possible risks and benefits for me?
Will it cost me anything? Are travel or time paid for?
Can I keep seeing my own doctor during the study?
What happens when the study ends?

Official record

Not yet recruiting
Lumbar Erector Spinae Plane Block Versus PENG Block for Hip Fracture Surgery
Femur Neck Fracture, Hip Fractures
RecruitingPhase 3
High-dose Prophylactic Gabapentin (HOPE) vs. Placebo to Prevent Opioid Use for Oral Mucositis Pain During Concurrent Chemoradiation for Head and Neck Cancer
Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Stage I Head and Neck Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v8
Not yet recruitingObservational study
Relationship of Forward Head Posture With Burnout and Quality of Life
Forward Head Posture
Recruiting
Kinesiology Taping Versus Self-Mobilization for Neck Pain Related to Prolonged Electronic Device Use
Neck Pain
Active, not recruiting
Multimodal Manual Therapy vs. Maitland Mobilization for Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain
Chronic Neck Pain

All Neck Pain trials

Study at a glance

From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 21 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.

Official title: Comparison of the Therapeutic Effectiveness of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and Interferential Current in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind Study
ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT07780747
Acronym / sponsor ID: bdh2000
Conditions: Neck Pain
Study type: Interventional
Recruitment status: Completed
Enrolment: 57 participants (actual)
Lead sponsor: Beylikduzu State HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
Study start: 1 Jan 2015 (actual)
Primary completion: 1 May 2015 (actual)
Study completion: 1 May 2015 (actual)
First posted: 21 Aug 2026 (actual)
Results: Not posted in the source record

Clinical summary

The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.

Study design

Primary purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomised
Intervention model: Parallel groups
Masking: Single blind (outcomes assessor)
Number of arms: 3

Arm	Type	Receives
patients who received TENS for chronic neck pain	Experimental	Device: TENSTranscutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) was applied to the cervical region using four electrodes. Treatment was administered using a FİZYOMED FİZYOTENS-4000 device in conventional mode with a stimulation frequency of 40 Hz and a pulse duration of 100 μs. Each session lasted 20 minutes. Treatment was administered for 10 sessions over 2 weeks. Participants also received a home exercise program and education on protective techniques.
patients who received IFC for chronic neck pain	Experimental	Device: IFCInterferential current (IFC) therapy was applied to the cervical region using four electrodes and an ET 3000 combined electrotherapy device. Treatment was administered with a carrier frequency of 4000 Hz, a stimulation frequency of 40 Hz, and an amplitude-modulated frequency (AMF) of 40 Hz using a 1/1 rectangular spectrum. Each session lasted 20 minutes. Treatment was administered for 10 sessions over 2 weeks. Participants also received a home exercise program and education on protective techniques.
Control	Sham comparator	Other: Sham electrotherapySham electrotherapy was applied to the cervical region using four electrodes. The electrotherapy device was turned on, but no electrical current was delivered. Each sham treatment session lasted 20 minutes. Treatment was administered for 10 sessions over 2 weeks. Participants also received a home exercise program and education on protective techniques.

Who may qualify

Ages: 18 to 60 years
Sex: All
Healthy volunteers: Accepted
Age groups: Adult

Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Interventions

Intervention	Type	Arms
TENSTranscutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) was applied to the cervical region using four electrodes. Treatment was administered using a FİZYOMED FİZYOTENS-4000 device in conventional mode with a stimulation frequency of 40 Hz and a pulse duration of 100 μs. Each session lasted 20 minutes. Treatment was administered for 10 sessions over 2 weeks. Participants also received a home exercise program and education on protective techniques.	Device	patients who received TENS for chronic neck pain
IFCInterferential current (IFC) therapy was applied to the cervical region using four electrodes and an ET 3000 combined electrotherapy device. Treatment was administered with a carrier frequency of 4000 Hz, a stimulation frequency of 40 Hz, and an amplitude-modulated frequency (AMF) of 40 Hz using a 1/1 rectangular spectrum. Each session lasted 20 minutes. Treatment was administered for 10 sessions over 2 weeks. Participants also received a home exercise program and education on protective techniques.	Device	patients who received IFC for chronic neck pain
Sham electrotherapySham electrotherapy was applied to the cervical region using four electrodes. The electrotherapy device was turned on, but no electrical current was delivered. Each sham treatment session lasted 20 minutes. Treatment was administered for 10 sessions over 2 weeks. Participants also received a home exercise program and education on protective techniques.	Other	Control

Primary outcome

Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ):
Time frame: Baseline, 3th weeks
The SF-MPQ, developed by Melzack in 1987 and validated in Turkish by Yakut et al., is widely used to assess pain. It evaluates sensory, affective, and total pain dimensions, along with VAS and Present Pain Intensity (PPI). The questionnaire consists of 15 descriptors (11 sensory and 4 affective), each scored from 0 (none) to 3 (severe), yielding sensory, affective, and total pain scores. PPI is assessed using a 6-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 5 (unbearable pain)

3 secondary outcomes

Beck Depression Inventory (BDI):
Time frame: Baseline, 3th weeks
Copenhagen Neck Functional Disability Index (CNFDI): Copenhagen Neck Functional Disability Index (CNFDI):
Time frame: Baseline, 3th weeks
Short Form-36 (SF-36)
Time frame: Baseline, 3th weeks

Results and safety

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

Research links

Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 21 Aug 2026.

Related trials for Neck Pain

Not yet recruiting
Lumbar Erector Spinae Plane Block Versus PENG Block for Hip Fracture Surgery
Femur Neck Fracture, Hip Fractures
RecruitingPhase 3
High-dose Prophylactic Gabapentin (HOPE) vs. Placebo to Prevent Opioid Use for Oral Mucositis Pain During Concurrent Chemoradiation for Head and Neck Cancer
Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Stage I Head and Neck Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v8
Not yet recruitingObservational study
Relationship of Forward Head Posture With Burnout and Quality of Life
Forward Head Posture
Recruiting
Kinesiology Taping Versus Self-Mobilization for Neck Pain Related to Prolonged Electronic Device Use
Neck Pain
Active, not recruiting
Multimodal Manual Therapy vs. Maitland Mobilization for Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain
Chronic Neck Pain

Referral and contact

AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.

The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing TENS and IFC in people with Neck Pain, run by Beylikduzu State Hospital.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ): (time frame: Baseline, 3th weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07780747.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 21 Aug 2026.