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

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Standard Care (in control arm): Participants will receive standard care during concurrent chemoradiotherapy according to institutional practice. Standard care includes routine pre-treatment evaluation, radiotherapy followed by chemotherapy, post-radiotherapy cold compresses applied to the irradiated area three times daily, and standard supportive care during chemotherapy.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation: Participants will receive transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation twice daily (morning and evening) for five consecutive days during each concurrent chemoradiotherapy cycle. Each treatment session will last 20 minutes. Self-adhesive electrode pads will be applied bilaterally to the Fengchi (GB20), Neiguan (PC6), and Hegu (LI4) acupoints.

Far-Infrared Therapy: Participants will receive far-infrared therapy twice daily (morning and evening) for five consecutive days during each concurrent chemoradiotherapy cycle. Each treatment session will last 30 minutes. Participants will be placed in a supine position with the dorsum of both feet exposed. Far-infrared irradiation will be applied bilaterally to the Taichong (LR3) acupoints, with the radiator positioned approximately 20 cm above the treatment sites.

Study summary

This clinical trial aims to evaluate whether far infrared radiation therapy and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation can reduce treatment-related side effects in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

The primary objectives of this study are to determine whether far infrared radiation therapy and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation can improve shoulder pain and disability, cervical range of motion, maximum interincisal distance, oral mucositis, systemic inflammation, and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: Group A will receive standard care (control group); Group B will receive standard care plus transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation; and Group C will receive standard care plus far infrared radiation therapy combined with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.

The intervention will be administered over two cycles of concurrent chemoradiotherapy, for a total of 10 intervention days. During each treatment cycle, participants in the intervention groups will receive the assigned treatment once every morning and once every evening for five consecutive days. Outcome assessments will be performed at three time points during each treatment cycle: before the intervention on Day 1 (baseline), after the intervention on Day 3, and after the intervention on Day 5.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Shoulder Pain and Disability — Baseline (Day 1 before intervention), Day 3 after intervention, and Day 5 after intervention during each of the two concurrent chemoradiotherapy cycles.
  Shoulder pain and disability will be assessed using the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI). The SPADI is a validated questionnaire that evaluates the severity of shoulder pain and the impact of shoulder dysfunction on activities of daily living. Higher scores indicate greater pain and disability.
• Cervical Range of Motion — Baseline (Day 1 before intervention), Day 3 after intervention, and Day 5 after intervention during each of the two concurrent chemoradiotherapy cycles.
  Cervical range of motion (ROM) will be measured using a goniometer and recorded in degrees. Measurements will include cervical flexion, extension, left and right lateral flexion, and left and right rotation to evaluate cervical mobility in patients with head and neck cancer.

Trial sites (1)

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