Changing the sensory threshold of elderly people through low-frequency, high-voltage acupoint electrical stimulation

Abstract

It is widely known that acupoint of electrotherapy decreases the threshold of pain and release of catecholamine by mechanical and chemical stimulation. However, there have been no studies to find the change in the sensory threshold and time-dependent stimulus generated by acupoint electrical stimulation (AES) on the different body regions. The present study was conducted to examine the differences in sensory threshold between elderly and youthful subjects, as well as the sensory threshold by electrical stimulation in the lower back, shoulder, and knee joint regions in the elderly. The sensory threshold was increased in subjects over age 60 compared with 20 year olds. In relation to age, the sensory threshold was increased in the 60 s, 70 s, and 80 s, respectively, compared with during the 20 s. The sensory threshold was significantly increased in the lower back region compared with the shoulder and knee joint regions. The result of the analysis of the sensory threshold in response to the application of electrical stimulation revealed a time-dependent response, with the sensory threshold little changed. However, the change in the sensory threshold was significantly associated with time, increasing after AES from 10 and 15 min compared with 0 min for all ages. It was most pronounced in both the shoulder and knee joint region. Therefore, these results at least partially suggest that the change in sensory threshold is associated with age, and suggest the need to develop specialized physiotherapy to enable seniors to lead healthy lives.