The effect of two different types of electric current on experimental pain threshold in healthy individuals: A double blind, randomized controlled trial

Ayşe Numanoğlu Akbaş; Sinem Suner-keklik; Hatice Yakut; Ömer Osman Pala

doi:10.7197/cmj.vi.676491

Research Article

The effect of two different types of electric current on experimental pain threshold in healthy individuals: A double blind, randomized controlled trial

Year 2020, Volume: 42 Issue: 1, 19 - 27, 20.05.2020

Ayşe Numanoğlu Akbaş , Sinem Suner-keklik , Hatice Yakut , Ömer Osman Pala

https://doi.org/10.7197/cmj.vi.676491

Abstract

Objective: Physiotherapists often resort to electrophysical agents for pain management.

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of acupuncture-like Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) on experimental pressure pain threshold (PPT) in healthy individuals.

Method: Sixty one healthy participants (44 females, 17 males) aged 18-21 years were included in the study.The participants were divided into acupuncture-like TENS and NMES groups. The application was performed for 20 minutes from the right upper limb. The PPT changes of the participants were evaluated from the thenar part of both hands with an algometer before the current application, immediately after and 60 minutes after.

Results: There was no difference in the PPT levels of the right and left extremities of the participants in both groups before the application (p>0.05). In both groups and intergroup comparisons, there was no difference in PPT levels measured from the right and left extremities of participants before the current application, immediately after and 60 minutes after the current application (p>0.05).

Conclusions: In this study, it was concluded that acupuncture-like TENS and NMES had no effect on experimental PPT and therefore, the clinical use of currents should be questioned.

Keywords

Electric stimulation therapy, pain, physical therapists, pressure

Supporting Institution

Scientific Research Project Fund of Sivas Cumhuriyet University

Project Number

SBF-66

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