title: High-frequency transcutaneous peripheral nerve stimulation induces a higher increase of heat pain threshold in the cutaneous area of the stimulated nerve when confronted to the neighbouring areas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) is probably the most diffused physical therapy used for antalgic purposes. Although it continues to be used by trial and error, correct targeting of paresthesias evoked by the electrical stimulation on the painful area is diffusely considered very important for pain relief.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate if TENS antalgic effect is higher in the cutaneous area of the stimulated nerve when confronted to neighbouring areas.
  
  
  METHODS
  10 volunteers (4 males, 6 females) underwent three different sessions: in two, heat pain thresholds (HPTs) were measured on the dorsal hand skin before, during and after electrical stimulation (100 Hz, 0.1 msec) of superficial radial nerve; in the third session HPTs, were measured without any stimulation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Radial nerve stimulation induced an increase of HPT significantly higher in its cutaneous territory when confronted to the neighbouring ulnar nerve territory, and antalgic effect persisted beyond the stimulation time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The location of TENS electrodes is crucial for obtaining the strongest pain relief, and peripheral nerve trunk stimulation is advised whenever possible. Moreover, the present study indicates that continuous stimulation could be unnecessary, suggesting a strategy for avoiding the well-known tolerance-like effect of prolonged TENS application.
authors.affiliation: Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, Scientific Institute of Pavia, Unit of Clinical Neurophysiology & Neurodiagnostic Skin Biopsy, Via S. Maugeri 10, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buonocore
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Camuzzini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cecini
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dalla Toffola
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000502:physiology; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation
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