title: Local transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS) effects in experimental inflammatory edema and pain.
abstract: Few studies in the literature associated transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS) use with an antiinflammatory activity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of low (10 Hz)- and high (130 Hz)-frequency TENS on hyperalgesia and edema that occur after injection of carrageenan in rat paw. After induction of inflammation, either low- or high-frequency TENS was applied in the rat paw for 20 min, and the effect of TENS treatment on escape or paw withdrawal and edema was measured. Both low- and high-frequency TENS inhibited by 100% the hyperalgesia but not the edema response. However, low-frequency TENS presented longer lasting effect as compared with high-frequency TENS. Naltrexone-treated animals showed a complete reversion of the analgesic effect induced by low- but not high-frequency TENS. Thus, our data demonstrated absence of an antiinflammatory effect associated to TENS use and confirmed the participation of endogenous opioids on low TENS-induced analgesia.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisioterapia da Escola de Educação Física, Fisioterapia e Terapia Ocupacional da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, CEP: 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. mresende@eeffto.ufmg.br
authors.forename: Marcos A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Resende
authors.forename: George G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Sabino
authors.forename: Claudia R M
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Cândido
authors.forename: Leani S M
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Janetti N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Francischi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002351:Carrageenan; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000473:pathology; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000628:therapy; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D059408:Pain Management; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation
chemical_list: D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009271:Naltrexone; D002351:Carrageenan