Postoperative Pain After Cesarean SectionIC-TENS-CSNCT07847502
Interferential Current and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Pain After Cesarean Section
A study testing Conventional TENS and Interferential Current Therapy in people with Postoperative Pain After Cesarean Section, run by Dilara Özen Oruk at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study aims to compare the immediate and short-term effects of interferential current therapy and conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) with placebo stimulation on pain and postpartum comfort following cesarean section. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 40 years, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Postoperative Pain After Cesarean Section
- What is being tested?
- Conventional TENS and Interferential Current Therapy
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 54 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 4 Mar 2026to 1 Feb 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 40 years
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Women aged 18 to 40 years
- Ability to read, write, and communicate in Turkish
- Primiparous women
- Having delivered a healthy singleton infant by cesarean section
- No additional surgical procedure or complication during or after the cesarean section
Who cannot join
- Impaired orientation or cooperation
- History of systemic disorders, including hyperglycemia or hypertension, gastrointestinal disorders, or urogynecological disorders
- Previous abdominal surgery
- Neurological, orthopedic, cardiopulmonary, or other health conditions that may prevent mobilization or ambulation
- Previous experience with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation or interferential current therapy
- Contraindications to electrical stimulation, including sensory loss at the application site, dermatological problems or allergic reactions at the application site, or a cardiac pacemaker
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Menteşe State Hospital
Muğla, 48000
About this study
Official title: Comparison of the Effects of Interferential Current and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Pain Following Cesarean Section
This study aims to compare the immediate and short-term effects of interferential current therapy and conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) with placebo stimulation on pain and postpartum comfort following cesarean section. A total of 54 primiparous women aged 18-40 years will be randomly assigned to an interferential current, TENS, or placebo group. Each intervention will be administered for 30 minutes. Pain intensity at rest and during in-bed activities will be assessed before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and at 1 and 2 hours after the intervention. Postpartum comfort, treatment satisfaction, anxiety, and depression will also be evaluated.
Read the detailed description
This is a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, three-arm clinical trial conducted in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Menteşe State Hospital. The study will include 54 primiparous women following cesarean section. Eligible participants who provide written informed consent will be randomly allocated to the conventional TENS group, interferential current therapy group, or placebo stimulation group.
All interventions will be administered in the supine position with a pillow placed under the knees. Four self-adhesive electrodes will be positioned around the cesarean incision. Conventional TENS will be applied at a frequency of 125 Hz and a pulse duration of 60 microseconds. Interferential current therapy will be applied using a fixed frequency of 100 Hz. In both active intervention groups, current intensity will be increased to a strong but comfortable sensory level and adjusted throughout the session to maintain the same sensation. In the placebo group, the electrodes and device will be applied in the same manner, but no electrical current will be delivered. Each intervention will last 30 minutes.
An assessor blinded to group allocation will perform all evaluations. Pain intensity at rest and during in-bed activities will be assessed using separate 0-10 cm visual analog scales before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and at 1 and 2 hours after the intervention. Postpartum comfort will be evaluated before the intervention and 2 hours after the intervention using the Postpartum Comfort Questionnaire. Treatment satisfaction will be assessed immediately, 1 hour, and 2 hours after the intervention. Baseline anxiety and depression levels will be evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.
- Being tested
- Conventional TENS, Interferential Current Therapy, Placebo Electrical Stimulation
- Keywords
- Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, TENS, Interferential Current Therapy, Cesarean Delivery, Postpartum Comfort, Acute Postoperative Pain, Nonpharmacological Pain Management
- Medical subject headings
- Pain, Postoperative
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Conventional TENSDevice
Conventional TENS will be applied for 30 minutes at a frequency of 125 Hz and a pulse duration of 60 microseconds. Four self-adhesive electrodes will be positioned around the cesarean incision. Current intensity will be increased to a strong but comfortable sensory level and adjusted during the session to maintain the same sensation.
Interferential Current TherapyDevice
Also called IFC
Interferential current therapy will be applied for 30 minutes using a fixed frequency of 100 Hz. Four self-adhesive electrodes will be positioned around the cesarean incision in a crossed arrangement. Current intensity will be increased to a strong but comfortable sensory level and adjusted during the session to maintain the same sensation.
Placebo Electrical StimulationDevice
Also called Sham Stimulation
The electrodes and stimulation device will be applied in the same position and for the same 30-minute duration as in the active intervention groups; however, no electrical current will be delivered.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional TENS | Active comparator | Participants will receive one 30-minute session of conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation following cesarean section. Receives: Device: Conventional TENS |
| Interferential Current Therapy | Experimental | Participants will receive one 30-minute session of interferential current therapy following cesarean section. Receives: Device: Interferential Current Therapy |
| Placebo Stimulation | Placebo comparator | Participants will receive one 30-minute session of placebo electrical stimulation following cesarean section. Receives: Device: Placebo Electrical Stimulation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Pain Intensity at Rest
Pain intensity at rest will be assessed using a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity. Changes from baseline will be compared among the three groups.
Measured: Baseline, immediately after the 30-minute intervention, 1 hour after the intervention, and 2 hours after the intervention
Secondary outcomes (2)
Change in Postpartum Comfort
Postpartum comfort will be assessed using the Postpartum Comfort Questionnaire. The questionnaire contains 34 items covering physical, psychospiritual, and sociocultural comfort. Total scores range from 34 to 170, with higher scores indicating greater postpartum comfort.
Measured: Baseline and 2 hours after the intervention
Treatment Satisfaction
Treatment satisfaction will be assessed using a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale ranging from 0 (not satisfied at all) to 10 (very satisfied). Higher scores indicate greater treatment satisfaction.
Measured: Immediately after the intervention, 1 hour after the intervention, and 2 hours after the intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted29 Sep 2026
- Study start4 Mar 2026
- Primary completion1 Feb 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Feb 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Postoperative Pain After Cesarean SectionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to the conventional TENS, interferential current therapy, or placebo stimulation group.
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 54 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Dilara Özen Oruk
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Dilara Özen Oruk, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University
- Investigators
- Dilara Özen Oruk, PhD, Principal investigator, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07847502
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- MSKU-CS-001
- Acronym
- IC-TENS-CS
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 22 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 2 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data will not be made publicly available because the dataset contains sensitive obstetric and health information, and public data sharing was not included in the informed consent process.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparison of the Effects of Interferential Current and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Pain Following Cesarean Section
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07847502
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IC-TENS-CS / MSKU-CS-001
- Keywords
- Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, TENS, Interferential Current Therapy, Cesarean Delivery, Postpartum Comfort, Acute Postoperative Pain, Nonpharmacological Pain Management
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 54 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Dilara Özen OrukUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 4 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Feb 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Feb 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 29 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to compare the immediate and short-term effects of interferential current therapy and conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) with placebo stimulation on pain and postpartum comfort following cesarean section. A total of 54 primiparous women aged 18-40 years will be randomly assigned to an interferential current, TENS, or placebo group. Each intervention will be administered for 30 minutes. Pain intensity at rest and during in-bed activities will be assessed before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and at 1 and 2 hours after the intervention. Postpartum comfort, treatment satisfaction, anxiety, and depression will also be evaluated.
Detailed description
This is a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, three-arm clinical trial conducted in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Menteşe State Hospital. The study will include 54 primiparous women following cesarean section. Eligible participants who provide written informed consent will be randomly allocated to the conventional TENS group, interferential current therapy group, or placebo stimulation group.
All interventions will be administered in the supine position with a pillow placed under the knees. Four self-adhesive electrodes will be positioned around the cesarean incision. Conventional TENS will be applied at a frequency of 125 Hz and a pulse duration of 60 microseconds. Interferential current therapy will be applied using a fixed frequency of 100 Hz. In both active intervention groups, current intensity will be increased to a strong but comfortable sensory level and adjusted throughout the session to maintain the same sensation. In the placebo group, the electrodes and device will be applied in the same manner, but no electrical current will be delivered. Each intervention will last 30 minutes.
An assessor blinded to group allocation will perform all evaluations. Pain intensity at rest and during in-bed activities will be assessed using separate 0-10 cm visual analog scales before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and at 1 and 2 hours after the intervention. Postpartum comfort will be evaluated before the intervention and 2 hours after the intervention using the Postpartum Comfort Questionnaire. Treatment satisfaction will be assessed immediately, 1 hour, and 2 hours after the intervention. Baseline anxiety and depression levels will be evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to the conventional TENS, interferential current therapy, or placebo stimulation group.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional TENS | Active comparator | Device: Conventional TENSParticipants will receive one 30-minute session of conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation following cesarean section. |
| Interferential Current Therapy | Experimental | Device: Interferential Current TherapyParticipants will receive one 30-minute session of interferential current therapy following cesarean section. |
| Placebo Stimulation | Placebo comparator | Device: Placebo Electrical StimulationParticipants will receive one 30-minute session of placebo electrical stimulation following cesarean section. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 40 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Women aged 18 to 40 years
- Ability to read, write, and communicate in Turkish
- Primiparous women
- Having delivered a healthy singleton infant by cesarean section
- No additional surgical procedure or complication during or after the cesarean section
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Impaired orientation or cooperation
- History of systemic disorders, including hyperglycemia or hypertension, gastrointestinal disorders, or urogynecological disorders
- Previous abdominal surgery
- Neurological, orthopedic, cardiopulmonary, or other health conditions that may prevent mobilization or ambulation
- Previous experience with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation or interferential current therapy
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional TENSConventional TENS will be applied for 30 minutes at a frequency of 125 Hz and a pulse duration of 60 microseconds. Four self-adhesive electrodes will be positioned around the cesarean incision. Current intensity will be increased to a strong but comfortable sensory level and adjusted during the session to maintain the same sensation. | Device | Conventional TENS |
| Interferential Current TherapyAlso: IFCInterferential current therapy will be applied for 30 minutes using a fixed frequency of 100 Hz. Four self-adhesive electrodes will be positioned around the cesarean incision in a crossed arrangement. Current intensity will be increased to a strong but comfortable sensory level and adjusted during the session to maintain the same sensation. | Device | Interferential Current Therapy |
| Placebo Electrical StimulationAlso: Sham StimulationThe electrodes and stimulation device will be applied in the same position and for the same 30-minute duration as in the active intervention groups; however, no electrical current will be delivered. | Device | Placebo Stimulation |
Primary outcome
Change in Pain Intensity at Rest
Time frame: Baseline, immediately after the 30-minute intervention, 1 hour after the intervention, and 2 hours after the intervention
Pain intensity at rest will be assessed using a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity. Changes from baseline will be compared among the three groups.
2 secondary outcomes
Change in Postpartum Comfort
Time frame: Baseline and 2 hours after the intervention
Treatment Satisfaction
Time frame: Immediately after the intervention, 1 hour after the intervention, and 2 hours after the intervention
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 2 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data will not be made publicly available because the dataset contains sensitive obstetric and health information, and public data sharing was not included in the informed consent process.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Dilara Özen Oruk, PhD principal investigator
Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Conventional TENS and Interferential Current Therapy in people with Postoperative Pain After Cesarean Section, run by Dilara Özen Oruk at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Dilara Özen Oruk, PhD (+902522112072, dilaraozen@mu.edu.tr), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Pain Intensity at Rest (time frame: Baseline, immediately after the 30-minute intervention, 1 hour after the intervention, and 2 hours after the intervention). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Oct 2026.