Effects of TENS along with Labor Exercises on Pain Intensity in Pregnant Women

Abstract

Background: Labor pain is usually very severe, especially for first-time mothers, and many women struggle to deal with it. Non-pharmacological methods like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and labor exercises are considered safe and can sometimes reduce the need for medicines. Objective: To assess the effects of TENS, along with basic labor exercises, on pain intensity during labor and to compare it with routine labor care. Methodology: A randomized trial was carried out, and a total of 60 primigravida women in the active first stage of labor were randomly allocated into two equal groups (n=30 each) using a computer-generated randomization sequence. Women with high-risk pregnancies, obstetric complications, pre-existing medical conditions, or contraindications to TENS were excluded. The intervention group received transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and selected labor exercises, while the control group received routine labor care only. Labour exercises included upright positions, pelvic rocking, gentle bouncing on a birthing ball, and guided breathing techniques. Pain was checked by using numeric pain rating scale (0-10) before starting the intervention and again after 60 minutes. Participant safety and adherence were monitored throughout the study. Any adverse events, such as skin irritation or fatigue, were promptly addressed. Between-group comparisons for continuous variables were performed using independent t-tests. Repeated measures of pain scores were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. Results: Pain increased as labor moved forward in both groups, but after intervention, the improvement was greater in the intervention group. Their first mean pain score was 6.4 ± 1.1, and in the control group it was 6.3 ± 1.0. After 60 minutes, the pain reduced to 4.9 ± 1.2 in the intervention group, while in the control group it reduced only to 5.8 ± 1.3. This difference after intervention was significant (p<0.05), indicating better pain relief with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and exercises compared with routine care. Conclusion: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, along with labor exercises, showed better results in reducing labor pain than routine care alone. Since this approach is simple, non-invasive, and safe for mother and baby, it can be considered a helpful method for pain management during the first stage of labor.