An Investigation Into the Effects of Frequency-Modulated Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) on Experimentally-Induced Pressure Pain in Healthy Human Participants

Journal of Pain

Volumn 10, Issue 10, 2009, Pages 1029-1037

  Chen, Chih Chung ^a   Johnson, Mark I ^a  

^a LEEDS METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

experimental pain; frequency modulated; hypoalgesia; pain threshold; pressure algometry; Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS)

Indexed keywords

PLACEBO;

ADULT; ALGOMETRY; ARTICLE; CLINICAL ARTICLE; CLINICAL TRIAL; CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL; CONTROLLED STUDY; CROSSOVER PROCEDURE; FEMALE; FREQUENCY MODULATION; HUMAN; HYPOALGESIA; MALE; PAIN; PAIN THRESHOLD; PARESTHESIA; RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL; SINGLE BLIND PROCEDURE; TRANSCUTANEOUS NERVE STIMULATION;

ADULT; CROSS-OVER STUDIES; FEMALE; HUMANS; MALE; NOCICEPTORS; PAIN; PAIN MEASUREMENT; PAIN THRESHOLD; PARESTHESIA; PERIPHERAL NERVES; PLACEBO EFFECT; PRESSURE; TRANSCUTANEOUS ELECTRIC NERVE STIMULATION; TREATMENT OUTCOME;

EID: 70349459738     PISSN: 15265900     EISSN: 15288447     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2009.03.008     Document Type: Article

References (53)

1. Aarskog R., Johnson M.I., Demmink J.H., Lofthus A., Iversen V., Lopes-Martins R.A.B., Joensen J., and Bjordal J.M. Is mechanical pain threshold after transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) increased locally and unilaterally? A randomized placebo-controlled trial in healthy subjects. Physiother Res Int 12 (2007) 251-263
2. Alves-Guerreiro J., Noble J.G., Lowe A.S., and Walsh D.M. The effect of three electrotherapeutic modalities upon peripheral nerve conduction and mechanical pain threshold. Clin Physiol 21 (2001) 704-711
3. Barlas P., and Lundeberg T. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and acupuncture. In: McMahon S., and Koltzenburg M. (Eds). Textbook of Pain (2006), Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, Philadelphia 583-590
4. Barrella M., Toscano R., Goldoni M., and Bevilacqua M. Frequency rhythmic electrical modulation system (FREMS) on H-reflex amplitudes in healthy subjects. Eura Medicophys 43 (2007) 37-47
5. Bjordal J.M., Johnson M.I., and Ljunggreen A.E. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) can reduce postoperative analgesic consumption: A meta-analysis with assessment of optimal treatment parameters for postoperative pain. Eur J Pain 7 (2003) 181-188
6. Chakour M.C., Gibson S.J., Neufeld M., Khalil Z., and Helme R.D. Development of an active placebo for studies of TENS treatment. In: Devor M., Rowbotham M.C., and Wiesenfeld-Hallin Z. (Eds). Progress in pain research and management. Proceedings of the IXth World Congress on Pain (2000), IASP Press, Seattle 987-992
7. Charlton J. Task Force on Professional Education. In: Charlton J. (Ed). Stimulation-Produced Analgesia (2005), IASP Press, Seattle 93-96
8. Chartered Society of Physiotherapy: Guidance for the Clinical Use of Electrophysical Agents (2006), Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, London
9. Chen C.C., Tabasam G., and Johnson M.I. Does the pulse frequency of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) influence hypoalgesia? A systematic review of studies using experimental pain and healthy human participants. Physiotherapy 94 (2008) 11-20
10. Chesterton L.S., Barlas P., Foster N.E., Baxter G.D., and Wright C.C. Gender differences in pressure pain threshold in healthy humans. Pain 101 (2003) 259-266
11. Chesterton L.S., Barlas P., Foster N.E., Lundeberg T., Wright C.C., and Baxter G.D. Sensory stimulation (TENS): Effects of parameter manipulation on mechanical pain thresholds in healthy human subjects. Pain 99 (2002) 253-262
12. Chesterton L.S., Foster N.E., Wright C.C., Baxter G.D., and Barlas P. Effects of TENS frequency, intensity and stimulation site parameter manipulation on pressure pain thresholds in healthy human subjects. Pain 106 (2003) 73-80
13. Chesterton L.S., Sim J., Wright C.C., and Foster N.E. Interrater reliability of algometry in measuring pressure pain thresholds in healthy humans, using multiple raters. Clin J Pain 23 (2007) 760-766
14. Claydon L.S., Chesterton L.S., Barlas P., and Sim J. Effects of simultaneous dual-site TENS stimulation on experimental pain. Eur J Pain 12 (2008) 696-704
15. Cramp F.L., Noble G., Lowe A.S., Walsh D.M., and Willer J.C. A controlled study on the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and interferential therapy upon the RIII nociceptive and H-reflexes in humans. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 81 (2000) 324-333
16. de Tommaso M., Fiore P., Camporeale A., Guido M., Libro G., Losito L., Megna M., Puca F., and Megna G. High and low frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation inhibits nociceptive responses induced by CO2 laser stimulation in humans. Neurosci Lett 342 (2003) 17-20
17. Desantana J.M., Santana-Filho V.J., and Sluka K.A. Modulation between high- and low-frequency transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation delays the development of analgesic tolerance in arthritic rats. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 89 (2008) 754-760
18. Ekstrom U., and Sjolund BH. Is modulation the way to increase the efficacy of conventional TENS? An experimental study. In: Dubner R., Gebhart G., and Bond M. (Eds). Proceedings of the Vth World Congress on Pain (1988), Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam 583-589
19. Fischer A.A. Reliability of the pressure algometer as a measure of myofascial trigger point sensitivity. Pain 28 (1987) 411-414
20. Fox J., and Sharp T. Practical Electrotherapy: A guide to safe application (2007), Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, Edinburgh
21. Ghoname E.A., Craig W.F., White P.F., Ahmed H.E., Hamza M.A., Henderson B.N., Gajraj N.M., Huber P.J., and Gatchel R.J. Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for low back pain: A randomized crossover study. JAMA 281 (1999) 818-823 Erratum in: JAMA 281:1795, 1999
22. Hamza M.A., White P.F., Ahmed H.E., and Ghoname E.A. Effect of the frequency of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on the postoperative opioid analgesic requirement and recovery profile. Anesthesiology 91 (1999) 1232-1238
23. Johnson M.I. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. In: Watson T. (Ed). Electrotherapy: Evidence Based Practice (2008), Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh 253-296
24. Johnson M.I. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and TENS-like devices: Do they provide pain relief?. Pain Rev 8 (2001) 121-128
25. Johnson M.I., Ashton C.H., Bousfield D.R., and Thompson J.W. Analgesic effects of different frequencies of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on cold-induced pain in normal subjects. Pain 39 (1989) 231-236
26. Johnson M.I., Ashton C.H., and Thompson J.W. An in-depth study of long-term users of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS): Implications for clinical use of TENS. Pain 44 (1991) 221-229
27. Johnson M.I., and Tabasam G. An investigation into the analgesic effects of different frequencies of the amplitude-modulated wave of interferential current therapy on cold-induced pain in normal subjects. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 84 (2003) 1387-1394
28. Johnson M.I., and Tabasam G. An investigation into the analgesic effects of interferential currents and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on experimentally induced ischemic pain in otherwise pain-free volunteers. Phys Ther 83 (2003) 208-223
29. Johnson M.I., and Tabasam G. A single-blind investigation into the hypoalgesic effects of different swing patterns of interferential currents on cold-induced pain in healthy volunteers. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 84 (2003) 350-357
30. Johnson M.I., and Tabasam G. A single-blind placebo-controlled investigation into the analgesic effects of interferential currents on experimentally induced ischaemic pain in healthy subjects. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging 22 (2002) 187-196
31. Kalra A., Urban M.O., and Sluka K.A. Blockade of opioid receptors in rostral ventral medulla prevents antihyperalgesia produced by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). J Pharmacol Exp Ther 298 (2001) 257-263
32. King E.W., and Sluka K.A. The effect of varying frequency and intensity of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on secondary mechanical hyperalgesia in an animal model of inflammation. J Pain 2 (2001) 128-133
33. Kruger L.R., van der Linden W.J., and Cleaton-Jones P.E. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in the treatment of myofascial pain dysfunction. S Afr J Surg 36 (1998) 35-38
34. Maeda Y., Lisi T.L., Vance C.G., and Sluka K.A. Release of GABA and activation of GABA(A) in the spinal cord mediates the effects of TENS in rats. Brain Res 1136 (2007) 43-50
35. Palmer S.T., and Martin D.M. Interferential current. In: Watson T. (Ed). Electrotherapy. Evidence-Based Practice (2008), Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, Edinburgh 217-315
36. Palmer S.T., Martin D.J., Steedman W.M., and Ravey J. Alteration of interferential current and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation frequency: Effects on nerve excitation. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 80 (1999) 1065-1071
37. Palmer S.T., Martin D.J., Steedman W.M., and Ravey J. Effects of electric stimulation on C and A delta fiber-mediated thermal perception thresholds. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 85 (2004) 119-128
38. Radhakrishnan R., King E.W., Dickman J.K., Herold C.A., Johnston N.F., Spurgin M.L., and Sluka K.A. Spinal 5-HT(2) and 5-HT(3) receptors mediate low, but not high, frequency TENS-induced antihyperalgesia in rats. Pain 105 (2003) 205-213 Erratum in: Pain 107:197, 2004
39. Radhakrishnan R., and Sluka K.A. Spinal muscarinic receptors are activated during low or high frequency TENS-induced antihyperalgesia in rats. Neuropharmacology 45 (2003) 1111-1119
40. Rakel B., and Frantz R. Effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on postoperative pain with movement. J Pain 4 (2003) 455-464
41. Robertson V.J., Ward A.R., Low J., and Reed A. Electrotherapy Explained. Principles and Practice (2006), Butterworth Heinemann Elsevier, Edinburgh
42. Sjolund B.H. Peripheral nerve stimulation suppression of C-fiber-evoked flexion reflex in rats, Part 1: Parameters of continuous stimulation. J Neurosurg 63 (1985) 612-616
43. Sluka K.A. TENS, Mechanism of action. In: Schmidt R.F., and Willis W.D. (Eds). Encyclopedia of Pain (Muscle Pain Management) (2007), Springer-Verlag, Berlin 2406-2409
44. Sluka K.A., Bailey K., Bogush J., Olson R., and Ricketts A. Treatment with either high or low frequency TENS reduces the secondary hyperalgesia observed after injection of kaolin and carrageenan into the knee joint. Pain 77 (1998) 97-102
45. Sluka K.A., Deacon M., Stibal A., Strissel S., and Terpstra A. Spinal blockade of opioid receptors prevents the analgesia produced by TENS in arthritic rats. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 289 (1999) 840-846
46. Sluka K.A., Judge M.A., McColley M.M., Reveiz P.M., and Taylor B.M. Low frequency TENS is less effective than high frequency TENS at reducing inflammation-induced hyperalgesia in morphine-tolerant rats. Eur J Pain 4 (2000) 185-193
47. Sluka K.A., Lisi T.L., and Westlund K.N. Increased release of serotonin in the spinal cord during low, but not high, frequency transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation in rats with joint inflammation. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 87 (2006) 1137-1140
48. Sluka K.A., Vance C.G., and Lisi T.L. High-frequency, but not low-frequency, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation reduces aspartate and glutamate release in the spinal cord dorsal horn. J Neurochem 95 (2005) 1794-1801
49. Spielholz N., and Nolan M.F. Conventional TENS and the phenomenon of accommodation, adaptation, habituation and electrode polarization. J Clin Electrophysiol 7 (1995) 16-19
50. Treede R.D., Rolke R., Andrews K., and Magerl W. Pain elicited by blunt pressure: Neurobiological basis and clinical relevance. Pain 98 (2002) 235-240
51. Walsh D.M., Liggett C., Baxter D., and Allen J.M. A double-blind investigation of the hypoalgesic effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation upon experimentally induced ischaemic pain. Pain 61 (1995) 39-45
52. Walsh D.M., Lowe A.S., McCormack K., Willer J.C., Baxter G.D., and Allen J.M. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation: Effect on peripheral nerve conduction, mechanical pain threshold, and tactile threshold in humans. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 79 (1998) 1051-1058
53. Wang Y., Zhang Y., Wang W., Cao Y., and Han J.S. Effects of synchronous or asynchronous electroacupuncture stimulation with low versus high frequency on spinal opioid release and tail flick nociception. Exp Neurol 192 (2005) 156-162