Using TENS therapy in physical therapy for fibromyalgia treatment
Official title: Fibromyalgia TENS in Physical Therapy Study (TIPS):an embedded pragmatic clinical trial
Funded at University of Iowa · NIH-10253306 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether using a TENS machine along with physical therapy can help people with fibromyalgia feel less pain, stick to their therapy better, and rely less on medications.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Iowa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project start | September 26, 2019 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2020 |
| Award (this year) | $5,262,260 |
| NIH project number | 4UH3AR076387-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10253306 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with fibromyalgia who are seeking non-pharmacological treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have fibromyalgia or those who are not receiving physical therapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effectiveness of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) when added to physical therapy for patients with fibromyalgia. It aims to determine if TENS can help reduce pain, improve adherence to therapy, and decrease reliance on medications. The study will be conducted in real-world physical therapy settings, allowing for practical insights into its application. By comparing outcomes for patients receiving standard physical therapy versus those receiving TENS in addition, the research seeks to provide evidence for better pain management strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved pain management and functional outcomes for fibromyalgia patients while reducing the need for opioid medications.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown success with TENS in managing musculoskeletal pain, indicating a promising approach for this research.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Iowa
Iowa City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sluka, Kathleen a — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Sluka, Kathleen a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
mHealth tool to boost physical therapy outcomes for adults with musculoskeletal pain
A mobile health app is being tested to help adults in physical therapy stay on track with home exercises and improve pain and function.
-
Noninvasive deep brain stimulation for fibromyalgia relief
A noninvasive ultrasound approach aims to directly modulate deep brain pain circuits to help people with fibromyalgia who don’t respond well to current treatments.
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LARKSPUR-mHealth: a remote positive-emotion program for fibromyalgia
A nationwide, fully online program tests whether brief daily skills to boost positive emotions can ease pain and improve daily life for adults with fibromyalgia.
-
Biomarker-Guided Fibromyalgia Treatment with Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation
A study to see if non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation can help people with fibromyalgia by balancing gut health and identifying biomarkers to guide treatment.
-
Auricular nerve stimulation for fibromyalgia in veterans
Aurasicular nerve stimulation therapy is being tested in veterans with fibromyalgia to see if it reduces pain and improves function compared to a sham treatment.
-
Improving back-pain care in rural areas with tele-physical therapy
This project tests a tele-rehabilitation program to help adults with chronic low back pain in rural communities access physical therapy and reduce opioid use.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.