Use of a cold cathode for percutaneous stimulation of human plantarflexor muscles

Prolonged, supramaximal stimulation of the soleus muscle is painful to humans. A method is proposed whereby percutaneous, supramaximal stimulation is possible using a cold cathode. Cooling the skin exposed to the stimulating current results in a sufficient anaesthesia of nociceptive cutaneous afferent nerves. This occurs without concomitant cooling of the muscle mass deep to the skin and subcutaneous tissue.