NEUROMUSCULAR EFFECTS OF ULTRASOUND-GUIDED PERCUTANEOUS NEUROMODULATION. A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

Introduction: ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation (PNM) consists of percutaneous electrical stimulation through a needle that is placed close to the nerve or motor point of the target muscle. This invasive technique is performed under ultrasound control and has the following advantages: reversibility, programmability, low risk, and specificity. The aim of this review was to find out the effects of ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation at the neuromuscular level in healthy humans and/or with various clinical conditions/pathologies. In addition, the level of scientific evidence on this technique was specifically determined. Material and method: a review of the scientific literature was carried out in the databases Medline, Web of Science, PEDro, Scopus and in the Pub-Med search engine, using the keywords “percutaneous neuromodulation”, “transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation” and "Ultrasound" without limit in the search period. The methodological quality analysis was performed using the JADAD and PEDro scales. Results: a total of 6 studies met the eligibility criteria. The results obtained show that PNM improves balance and endurance; it also causes a decrease in pain. However, the effects on ROM and functional capacity are contradictory. Conclusion: the number of articles published on ultrasound-guided PNM are limited. The effects on balance and resistance are those with the highest level of scientific evidence (mode-rate-solid), while the results on the rest of the variables (ROM, functional capacity and contractility) present lower or contradictory levels of evidence.