Effectiveness of Träbert current in a physiotherapy program for the management of musculoskeletal pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction. Träbert current (TC) is a physical therapy resource described for the management of musculoskeletal pain (MSP). It combines the effects of galvanism and sensory stimulation, offering various analgesic applications, although it seems that the studies that support its effectiveness are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of TC in a physical therapy plan for the management of MSP. Methods. Electronic databases reviewed included Medline (via PubMed), Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, Science Direct, and PEDro (last updated January 12, 2024). Randomised clinical trials (RCTs) comparing TC with other physical therapy interventions were included. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria and were analysed qualitatively, while five contributed to the meta-analysis. The clinical conditions treated included knee osteoarthritis, low back pain (LBP), and epicondylalgia. The risk of bias and internal validity was evaluated using the Rob2 tool (Cochrane) and the PEDro scale. Results. RCTs were rated as having favourable internal validity (PEDro), despite a lack of concealed allocation and blinding, resulting in an unclear risk of bias on D2 and D5 (Rob2). The studies reported a decrease in pain and disability for the experimental groups (p < 0.05), although the meta-analysis revealed a non-significant pooled effect for the standardised mean difference (SMD = 0.2–0.5, p > 0.05) in favour of the controls and with heterogeneity between the studies (I² = 50–75%). Conclusions. TC seems to be effective for the management of MSP, although it is necessary to improve the quality of the clinical trials to conduct a conclusive quantitative analysis.