--- title: "Effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on knee…" description: "TENS is not more effective than placebo for relieving knee pain in osteoarthritis and does not improve physical function." url: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d34826572.md" canonical: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d34826572.html" html: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d34826572.html" type: "study" study_key: "d34826572" journal: "Osteoarthritis Cartilage" year: 2021 pmid: "34826572" doi: "10.1016/j.joca.2021.10.015" citations: 1 updated: 2026-09-02 author: "Gabriel Radu, DO" author_credentials: "Physiatrist (PM&R). NY medical license 275110. NPI 1376861765." publisher: "Magellan Longevity" content_format: "markdown" --- # Effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on knee pain and physical function in osteoarthritis: a randomized clinical trial [Home](https://magellanlongevity.com/) › [Research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) › Effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on… **HTML version:** https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d34826572.html · **In the Magellan app:** https://magellanlongevity.com/#/study/d34826572 ## Citation | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Journal | Osteoarthritis Cartilage | | Year | 2021 | | PMID | [34826572](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34826572/) | | DOI | [10.1016/j.joca.2021.10.015](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2021.10.015) | | Study key | d34826572 | ## Takeaway TENS is not more effective than placebo for relieving knee pain in osteoarthritis and does not improve physical function. ## The question Does transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) effectively relieve pain and improve physical function in patients with knee osteoarthritis compared to placebo TENS, and is it safe? ## Hypothesis The study implicitly hypothesizes that TENS will be more effective than placebo TENS in reducing knee pain and improving physical function, and will be safe. ## Methods This was a multi-centre, parallel, 1:1 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. 220 participants with knee osteoarthritis were randomized to receive either TENS (n=108) or placebo TENS (n=112) for 3 weeks. The primary endpoint was knee pain at 3 weeks, assessed by the WOMAC pain subscale, with secondary outcomes including the WOMAC physical function subscale and safety. ## Results There was no significant difference in WOMAC pain between TENS and placebo TENS at the end of treatment (mean difference -0.06; P = 0.74) or throughout the trial (P = 0.98). Subgroup analyses also showed no interaction between patient/treatment characteristics and treatment effect on pain. Adverse event rates were similar, with 10.4% in the TENS group and 10.6% in the placebo TENS group (P = 0.95). No relevant differences were observed in secondary outcomes. ## Conclusion TENS does not improve knee osteoarthritis pain compared to placebo TENS. Therapists should consider alternative treatments for knee osteoarthritis pain and to facilitate exercise. ## Limitations The abstract does not explicitly state limitations of the study, but rather emphasizes the conclusiveness of its findings. ## Verbatim from the abstract > patients were randomized to TENS or placebo TENS for knee osteoarthritis ## Adverse Events in TENS vs. Placebo TENS Groups | Measure | Percentage of Patients (%) | | --- | --- | | TENS Group | 10.4 | | Placebo TENS Group | 10.6 | *Percentage of patients reporting adverse events in the TENS and placebo TENS groups.* ## Where this study is used on Magellan This paper is one of the citations behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of affiliate commissions. | Compound or device | Evidence grade | Graded pages | | --- | --- | --- | | TENS Pain-Relief Unit | Moderate evidence | [TENS Pain-Relief Unit](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/170.md) | ## Reference 1. **Effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on knee pain and physical function in osteoarthritis: a randomized clinical trial** Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2021 · [PMID 34826572](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34826572/) · [DOI 10.1016/j.joca.2021.10.015](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2021.10.015) > patients were randomized to TENS or placebo TENS for knee osteoarthritis ## Structured data ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d34826572.html#page","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d34826572.html","name":"Effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on knee pain and physical function in osteoarthritis:…","description":"TENS is not more effective than placebo for relieving knee pain in osteoarthritis and does not improve physical function.","inLanguage":"en","isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Gabriel Radu, DO","jobTitle":"Physiatrist (PM&R)","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NPI","value":"1376861765"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NY medical license","value":"275110"}]},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"encoding":{"@type":"MediaObject","encodingFormat":"text/markdown","contentUrl":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d34826572.md"},"dateModified":"2026-09-02"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research map","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on…","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d34826572.html"}]},{"@type":"ScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d34826572.html#study","name":"Effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on knee pain and physical function in osteoarthritis: a randomized clinical trial","headline":"Effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on knee pain and physical function in osteoarthritis:…","datePublished":"2021","isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"Osteoarthritis Cartilage"},"identifier":"PMID:34826572","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34826572/","sameAs":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2021.10.015","abstract":"TENS is not more effective than placebo for relieving knee pain in osteoarthritis and does not improve physical function."}]} ``` ## Related on Magellan Longevity - [TENS Pain-Relief Unit](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/170.md) — product graded on this and related evidence - [Evidence: gate-control nerve stimulation](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s170.md) - [Longevity research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) - [Evidence-based longevity supplements](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-supplements.md) ## Scope and disclosures Educational information, not medical advice. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication. Editorial firewall: evidence grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of any affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, Magellan Longevity earns from qualifying purchases. Reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified physician (DO).