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Table 2 The properties of applied intramuscular electrical stimulation of included studies

From: The efficacy of intramuscular electrical stimulation in the management of patients with myofascial pain syndrome: a systematic review

First author (year)

Location of treatment

Total sessions/session(s) per week/total duration

Wave properties

Needle electrode

Needle in TrP

Reference electrode

Shape

Freq. (Hz)

Intensity

Duration of treatment

Type

Pole

Byeon

(2003)

Upper trapezius

6/3/2 w

Biphasic pulse

10

3 times of sensory threshold

(contraction level)

15 m

NR

NR

NR

NR

Sumen

(2015)

Upper trapezius

10/5/2

Pulse

80

NR

(Sensory level)

20 m

NR

Yes

NR

NR

Medeiros

(2016)

Dermatomes related to C2-C5

& Paraspinal muscles

10/NR/NR

Pulse

2

NR

20 m

NR

NR

NR

NR

Hadizadeh (2017)

Upper trapezius

1/1/1 d

Biphasic burst

Basic freq.: 120

Burst freq.: 2

NR

(Contraction level)

10 m

Cathode

Yes

Patch electrode

Anode

Botelho

(2018)

C2-C4 Paraspinal muscle

10/NR/NR

Biphasic pulse

2

NR

20 m

NR

No

NR

NR

Brennan

(2020)

Upper trapezius

6/1/6 w

NR

10

NR

10 m

NR

Yes

NR

NR

  1. TrP trigger point, Freq. frequency, Hz hertz, W weeks, m minute, NR not reported, d day