The analgesic effects of interferential therapy on cold-induced pain in healthy subjects: a preliminary report

Abstract

Interferential (IF) therapy is an electrotherapeutic modality used by physiotherapists for the management of a variety of painful conditions. However, the analgesic efficacy of IF remains in doubt and its mechanism of analgesic action is far from understood. This preliminary study examined the effect of IF on cold-induced pain threshold and tolerance in healthy student volunteers. Interferential therapy, when applied to the anterior aspect of the forearm of healthy subjects, significantly elevated ice pain threshold when compared with a control (no treatment) group. These preliminary findings provide objective evidence for the analgesic effects of IF currents.