Module 12 Case Study: TENS

Name: Sarah M. 

Age: 39 

• Diagnosis: Chronic low back pain due to lumbar disc degeneration (L4-L5) 

• History: Patient reports dull, aching pain in her lower back for the past 8 months. She rates her pain at 6/10 at rest and 8/10 with prolonged standing. She has limited tolerance for physical activity and avoids walking more than 10 minutes. MRI confirms mild degenerative changes with no neurological deficits. 

Plan of Care: 

• Stretching and stabilization exercises for the lumbar spine 

• Core strengthening 

• Patient education on posture and body mechanics 

• TENS for pain management prior to therapeutic exercise sessions 

Short-Term Goals: 

• Decrease perceived pain levels from 6/10 to ≤3/10 within 2 weeks 

• Improve tolerance to standing and walking for 15 minutes 

Long-Term Goals: 

• Resume light jogging 3x/week within 8 weeks 

• Return to regular daily activities without use of analgesics