A study of cumulative antinociceptive effect of TENS on heat pain thr eshold in elder normal subjects
- VernacularTitle:穴位TENS对正常老年人热痛阈的累加抑制作用
- Author:
Ninghua WANG
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimula tion;
Cumulative effect;
Heat pain threshold
- From:
Chinese Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
2003;0(09):-
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To determine if TENS applicati on for 60 min twice daily, over a short period of time(3-day), could have cumula tive analgesic effects on another type of pain induced by heat. Methods Nineteen elder normal subjects, aged 60 to 85, were randomly allocated into a TENS and a placebo group. Sixty minutes of TENS (200ms in pu lses at 100Hz with 2 ～ 3 times sensory threshold intensity) or placebo stimulat ion was applied to four acupoints around the knee joint twice daily over a 3-da y period (=6 sessions in total). Heat pain threshold was measured using the Med oc TSA-2001 device before, during and after TENS or placebo stimulation to each subject. The results obtained were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. Results By the end of 6 treatment sessions, there was a significant increase in the pre-stimulation heat pain threshold, from 46.9℃ i n session 1 to 48.6℃ in session 6, or by 1.7℃ in the TENS group. Conclusion The existence of such a cumulative antinociceptive eff ect, as denoted by a significant rise in the heat pain threshold before TENS in session 1 when compared with that in session 6, suggested possible plastic chang es in the nervous system in the TENS group.
