Segmental and extrasegmental hypoalgesic effects of low-frequency pulsed current and modulated kilohertz-frequency currents in healthy subjects: randomized clinical trial

ABSTRACT

Objective: To compare the segmental and extrasegmental hypoalgesic effects of TENS, IFC and Aussie current on pressure pain threshold (PPT) during and after stimulation in healthy subjects. The second objective was to compare the sensory comfort related to electrical stimulation.

Material and Methods: 120 healthy subjects were randomized in TENS, IFC, Aussie current or placebo groups. The electrical stimulation was administered on the forearm. The PPT was measured on the forearm (segmental measure) and on the lower leg (extrasegmental measure) by an algometer at baseline, during and after stimulation of the forearm, and the sensory comfort in relation to electrical stimulation was measured with a visual analogue scale. Statistical analysis was performed using linear mixed models for PPT analysis and one-way ANOVA for sensory comfort analysis.

Results: The TENS, IFC and Aussie current increased the segmental and extrasegmental PPTs during application of current compared to the placebo. The PPTs measures and sensory comfort were not significantly different between the TENS, IFC and Aussie current groups.

Conclusions: Segmental and extrasegmental hypoalgesic effects may be produced using TENS, IFC or Aussie currents in healthy subjects. Furthermore, all of them presented a similar sensory comfort.

KEYWORDS:

• Pain
• electric stimulation therapy
• transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
• pain threshold

Acknowledgments

The present study was supported by funds received from the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance code 001; Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) (121032/2017-5).

Disclosure of Interest

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This study was financed in part by the Coordenação  de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001; Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) (121032/2017-5).