title: Effects of different frequencies of conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on pressure pain threshold and tolerance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pulse frequency is one of the key determinants of analgesic outcomes by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). However, optimal settings remain unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effects of different frequencies of TENS, on pressure pain threshold and tolerance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Currents with pulse duration of 110 μs, and pulse frequencies of 60 pps or 150 pps were applied on the volar aspects of the dominant forearms of 20 healthy volunteers, on two consecutive days, in a randomized order. Threshold and tolerance were measured at the beginning, after the 15th and 30th minutes of the applications, and 30 minutes after the applications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pressure pain threshold and tolerance values were higher at the 150 pps frequency, at all measurement times (p< 0.05). However, no frequencyXtime interaction and time-dependent changes were found for the outcome measures (p> 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings established that, at 150 pps conventional TENS, threshold and tolerance values were consistently higher. These results are presented to inform future research regarding optimal conventional TENS parameters and to provide support for clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Muğla School of Health, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Muğla, Turkey.
authors.forename: İlkim
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Çıtak Karakaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Muğla School of Health, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Muğla, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Gürhan
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Karakaya
authors.affiliation: Avicenna Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Esra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Erğun
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Tokat State Hospital, Tokat, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sedanur
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elmalı
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tüzün
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fırat
mesh_terms: D059787:Acute Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D017288:Pain Threshold; D011312:Pressure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation; algometer; frequency; pressure pain threshold; pressure pain tolerance