Suppression of pain sensation caused by millimeter waves: a double-blinded, cross-over, prospective human volunteer study.
We conducted a double-blinded, randomized, cross-over, prospective trial to evaluate the pain relief effect of millimeter waves (MW) under experimental conditions. The cold pressor test was used as a model of tonic aching pain. Twelve healthy male volunteers were exposed to an active medical MW generator and to a disabled sham generator with at least 24 h between exposures. Characteristics of continuous-wave electromagnetic output from the active generator were: wavelength 7.1 mm, incident power density 25 +/- 5 mW/cm2, and duration of exposure 30 min. MW produced a significant (P < 0.05) suppression of pain sensation, with an average 37.7% gain in pain tolerance and a 49.3% increase in pain sensitivity range (the latter being the difference between pain tolerance and pain threshold values). Of the 12 volunteers, 7 (58.3%) reacted to the active MW generator with an increased pain tolerance, and the individual reactions varied from 120% to 315% comparison with their own preexposure levels. MW therapy can potentially be used as a supplementary or alternative treatment for pain relief.


CONCLUSIONS
Pain management is still a significant medical problem. In a double-blinded, experimental setting, we confirmed that low-intensity millimeter wave therapy can reduce pain sensitivity in healthy human volunteers and can potentially be used as a supplementary or alternative treatment for pain relief.
Radzievsky
A A
AA
Richard J. Fox Center for Biomedical Physics, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, USA.
Rojavin
M A
MA
Cowan
A
A
Ziskin
M C
MC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires