Abstract
Interferential (IF) therapy is well documented as a therapeutic medium for pain relief. Despite widespread use by physiotherapists, there remains very limited laboratory or clinical evidence for the analgesic effect of IF.Fifty volunteers were randomly allocated to one of five groups ( n =10): control group (no treatment throughout); IF 100 Hz applied to the ipsilateral limb; IF 100 Hz applied to the contralateral limb; IF 30 Hz applied to the ipsilateral limb; Sham IF applied to the ipsilateral limb. Subjects were given repeated (six) cycles of cold-pressor pain and pain threshold scores were recorded for each cycle and compared using repeated measure ANOVA. Mean pain threshold values for all groups increased with the exception of the control group: where pain threshold values decreased across the cycles. Pain thresholds within IF treatment groups repeatedly increased, but no more than sham IF. IF at 30 Hz and 100 Hz applied to the contralateral limb offered more consistency in the rise in mean values, with the sham group demonstrating more variation in performance. However, statistical analysis failed to show any significant differences for the treatment effects either within groups across repeated cycles (P=0.123) or between the groups across cycles (P=0.552). IF does not significantly alter pain threshold.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.