Effects of Far Infrared Rays and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Short Term Prognosis of Head and Neck Cancer Patients Receiving Curative Treatment

NCT07334938 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: IRB113-052-A
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 90
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine whether far-infrared therapy and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) can improve postoperative side effects in patients with head and neck cancer. The main questions this study aims to answer are: Can far-infrared therapy and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation reduce pain and improve neck range of motion? Can far-infrared therapy and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation reduce inflammation? Researchers will compare three groups: Group A: control group; Group B: transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation; Group C: far-infrared therapy combined with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, to evaluate differences in pain, neck range of motion, and inflammation. Participants will receive the assigned intervention in the morning and evening for five consecutive days. Outcome measurements will be conducted on the first and fifth days.

Conditions

Head and Neck Cancer (H&N)

Keywords

Head and Neck Cancer (H&N); far infrared; transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Pain intensity

  Pain intensity will be assessed using a numeric rating scale (NRS), with scores ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable).

  Preoperative baseline (before surgery), postoperative day 10, and postoperative day 15

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Neck range of motion (ROM)

  Preoperative baseline (before surgery), postoperative day 10, and postoperative day 15

• Inflammatory markers (LMR, NLR)

  Preoperative baseline (before surgery), postoperative day 10, and postoperative day 15

Study Arms (3)

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

routine care

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Device: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)

TENS Combined With Far-Infrared Therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Device: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS); Device: Far-Infrared Therapy

Interventions

Far-Infrared Therapy DEVICE

Far-infrared therapy is applied to the neck region twice daily, in the morning and evening, for five consecutive days.

TENS Combined With Far-Infrared Therapy

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) DEVICE

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is applied to the neck region twice daily, in the morning and evening, for five consecutive days.

TENS Combined With Far-Infrared Therapy; Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 30 Years - 85 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Patients aged 30 to 85 years with a confirmed diagnosis of head and neck cancer.
• Patients scheduled to undergo surgical resection.
• Patients who are conscious, able to communicate verbally or in writing, and willing to complete questionnaires and comply with all study procedures.

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of open wounds or skin lesions at the sites where transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation electrodes would be applied.
• Contraindications to transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation, including a history of epilepsy, brain tumors, arteriovenous malformations, or implanted cardiac pacemakers or defibrillators, to avoid potential adverse effects of electrical stimulation.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation

Hualien City, Hualien County, 97002, Taiwan

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Head and Neck Neoplasms

Interventions

Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Electric Stimulation Therapy; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Rehabilitation; Analgesia; Anesthesia and Analgesia

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 16, 2025
• First Posted: January 12, 2026
• Study Start: May 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: November 30, 2025
• Study Completion: March 31, 2026
• Last Updated: January 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TW (1)