Abstract
Objective To investigate the effects of different transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation frequencies in nociception front of a pressure pain threshold and cold in healthy individuals.Methods Twenty healthy subjects were divided into four groups, all of which have gone through all forms of electrical stimulation at different weeks.Assessments were pre and post-therapy, 20 and 60 minutes after stimulation. To evaluate the pressure pain threshold, an algometer was used with one tapered tip, pressing the hypothenar region until voluntary report the word “pain”. Cold pain intensity was assessed by immersion in water at 5°C for 30 seconds; at the end, the subject was asked to quantify the pain intensity on a Visual Analog Scale for Pain. For electrical stimulation, two electrodes were used near the elbow, for 20 minutes, with an intensity strong, but not painful. The frequency was in accordance with the group: 0Hz (placebo); 7Hz; 100Hz; and 255Hz.Results Both for the assessment of pressure pain threshold as the cold pain intensity, there was no significant difference (p>0.05).Conclusion We conclude that the use of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on dermatomes C6 to C8 produced no significant change in pressure pain threshold or cold discomfort.
Highlights
Pain is a multidimensional phenomenon with sensitive, emotional, and cognitive components, described by the International Association for the Study of Pain as an unpleasant, emotional, and sensorial experience, linked or not to organic damage or described by the patientTENS is a low intensity alternated current that produces electrical impulses of various frequencies, and is effective in treating musculoskeletal disorders, as it influences and modulates nerve conduction processes of pain
It acts on peripheral mechanoceptors in which the stimulus is conducted by fibers Aβ, with long diameter, to the set of interneuron, which act in inhibiting retransmission of pain stimuli conducted by fibers Aδ and C, both with narrow diameters, closing the compartment of pain.[4,5] TENS may produce the release of serotonin, reduce the action of aspartate and glutamate on the spine,(6) and at low frequencies, there is participate of endogenous opioids.[2,7]
Since the volunteers were healthy, and the pain stimulus was induced, we evaluated a possible segmental analgesia located in the dermatome resulting from the interference of the pain message, and conventional TENS may, be responsible for this effect, since it interferes in the transmission of pain sensations to the supraspinal levels.[7,12]
Summary
Pain is a multidimensional phenomenon with sensitive, emotional, and cognitive components, described by the International Association for the Study of Pain as an unpleasant, emotional, and sensorial experience, linked or not to organic damage or described by the patientTENS is a low intensity alternated current that produces electrical impulses of various frequencies, and is effective in treating musculoskeletal disorders, as it influences and modulates nerve conduction processes of pain. One of them is the model of pain induced by cold, a simple method that involves a minimal risk of tissue lesion and in which pain ceases upon removal of the stimulus. During this test, a painful sensation is generated by the temperature receptors that start to send stimuli to a possible tissue damage site by peripheral routes (fibers C and fibers Aδ) and central routes (spinothalamic and spinoreticular), resulting in the sensation of pain induced by the cold.[8]. The quantity of pressure is usually recorded as pain threshold to pressure, which is the level at which subjects report feeling discomfort.[9]
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