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Modification of experimental, lower limb ischemic pain with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
Chris Seenan1, Patricia A Roche, Chee-Wee Tan
1Department of Physiotherapy, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow. chris.seenan@gcu.ac.uk
The Clinical Journal of Pain
|January 3, 2012
Summary
High-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (HF-TENS) effectively reduced lower limb ischemic pain in healthy volunteers. HF-TENS improved pain threshold, tolerance, and endurance compared to placebo TENS.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pain Management
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is effective for upper limb ischemic pain.
- No prior studies investigated TENS for lower limb ischemic pain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the pain-modifying effects of TENS on experimentally induced lower limb ischemic pain.
- To compare high-frequency TENS (HF-TENS) with placebo TENS (P-TENS).
Main Methods:
- 27 healthy volunteers underwent a modified Submaximal Effort Tourniquet Test.
- Participants received either HF-TENS or P-TENS, with baseline and intervention measures recorded.
- Outcome measures included pain threshold, tolerance, endurance, intensity, and McGill Pain Questionnaire scores.
Main Results:
- HF-TENS significantly increased pain threshold, tolerance, and endurance compared to baseline and P-TENS.
- Both HF-TENS and P-TENS increased pain tolerance and endurance versus baseline.
- HF-TENS reduced pain intensity more effectively than P-TENS between minutes 5 and 8.
Conclusions:
- HF-TENS demonstrates superior efficacy in modifying laboratory-induced lower limb ischemic pain compared to P-TENS.
- HF-TENS delays pain onset, reduces pain intensity, and postpones the onset of extreme pain.
