Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Pain and Function in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint condition associated with chronic pain and functional limitations, particularly among adults and older populations. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is widely used in physiotherapy as a non-pharmacological intervention, yet its clinical effectiveness in mild to moderate knee OA remains inconsistent.
Objective: This narrative review aimed to summarize and critically discuss recent clinical evidence on the effects of TENS on pain and physical function in individuals with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis.
Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted using targeted searches of PubMed and ScienceDirect. Clinical studies published between 2020 and 2025 that investigated TENS interventions and reported pain and/or physical function outcomes were included. Evidence was synthesized descriptively without systematic selection or quantitative pooling.
Results: Recent randomized controlled trials suggest that TENS may provide short-term pain relief and support functional performance in knee osteoarthritis. Treatment effects varied according to individual characteristics, stimulation parameters, and rehabilitation context, with more consistent functional benefits observed when TENS was combined with exercise.
Conclusion: TENS appears to be a safe adjunctive modality for pain management and functional support in mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis. However, heterogeneity across studies limits definitive conclusions, and further research is needed to optimize clinical application.