Abstract
The study investigated touch and pain sensations and the correlation between them in diadynamic current (DD) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), electrotherapies commonly applied in musculoskeletal disorders and occupational rehabilitation medicine. Forty healthy subjects were treated with either DD (n=20) or TENS (n=20). Each treatment consisted of three sessions with one-week interval. Touch sensation was determined with the JVP Domes esthesiometer, pain sensation with pressure pain threshold (PPT), and pressure pain tolerance threshold (PPTO) by an algometer. During each session the measurements were performed before the application of the procedure (T0), immediately after it (T1), and 30 minutes after the end of the procedure (T2). Both DD and TENS increased touch sensation (p<0.01) and did not significantly alter PPT and PPTO (p>0.05). No statistically significant differences in short-term effects, i.e., 3 weeks of the trial, were noted between DD and TENS in their influence on touch and pain sensations (p>0.05). There was a high significant correlation between touch and pain sensations in DD (r=0.86). TENS and DD caused similar analgesic effects. DD, which is shorter in the duration of the treatment, may comprise a realistic alternative to TENS in clinical practice of pain management.
Highlights
Diadynamic current (DD) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) are among numerous nonpharmacologic treatments applied in electromedicine, especially in musculoskeletal disorders and occupational rehabilitation medicine [1,2,3]
A statistically significant difference was observed between the basal thresholds (T0) and thresholds measured at different times (T1 and T2) indicating an increase in touch sensation
There was no statistically significant difference revealed between these therapies in their influence on pressure pain threshold (PPT) and pressure pain tolerance threshold (PPTO) (p>0,05)
Summary
Diadynamic current (DD) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) are among numerous nonpharmacologic treatments applied in electromedicine, especially in musculoskeletal disorders and occupational rehabilitation medicine [1,2,3]. What seems to be omitted is the case of the possible physiological mechanisms underlying the pain-relieving effects of these electrotherapies. Rehabilitation efficiency of these different methods cannot be constrained only to the examination of pain sensation. In this case the gate control theory [4, 5] constitutes a source of experimental predictions in the field of clinical rehabilitation. According to Melzack and Wall’s gate control theory, both DD and TENS can influence touch and pain sensations [4, 6]
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