title: Effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on peripheral to central blood pressure ratio in healthy subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on the arterial stiffness in healthy young adult and middle-aged men using the augmentation index (AI-x) and hemodynamic measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four men (12 aged 27·25 ± 5·53 years and 12 aged 54·83 ± 5·10 years) were randomly allocated to two subgroups: TENS or placebo in ganglion region for 45 min. The AI-x and hemodynamic measures [late systolic blood pressure (SBP), central blood pressure (CBP), difference between P1 and P2 (ΔP) and tension time index (TTI)] were determined before and after protocols.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TENS resulted in reduction of SBP in younger adults (TENSpre: 111 ± 2; post: 105 ± 2·2 mm Hg; PLACEBOpre: 113 ± 1·8; post: 114 ± 2·5 mm Hg; GEE, P<0·01), whereas no difference was found in middle-aged group. TENS also resulted in reduction of AI-x younger adults group (TENSpre: 56 ± 2·8; post: 53 ± 2%; PLACEBOpre: 55 ± 3; post: 58 ± 2·5%; GEE, P<0·01). ΔP and TTI were significantly decreased after the application of TENS in both groups, but significantly greater reductions in TTI and the SBP/CBP ratio were found in the group of younger adults.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The acute application of ganglion TENS attenuated arterial stiffness in younger adults as well as hemodynamic measures in the middle-aged group. This method could emerge as effective therapy for the management of arterial blood pressure.
authors: Physical Therapy and Physical Education Department, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil.
authors: Marianne L
authors: ML
authors: da Silva
authors: Exercise Pathophysiology Research Laboratory, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.|Physical Therapy Division, Serra Gaucha College and Public Health Research Group, Caxias do Sul, Brazil.
authors: Gaspar R
authors: GR
authors: Chiappa
authors: Hospital de Base do Distrito Federal, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil.
authors: Vinicius M
authors: VM
authors: da Silva
authors: Federal University of Para, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil.
authors: Laura M T
authors: LM
authors: Neves
authors: Physical Therapy and Physical Education Department, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil.
authors: Alexandra C G B
authors: AC
authors: de Lima
authors: Physical Therapy and Physical Education Department, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil.
authors: Fernanda P
authors: FP
authors: Tomasi
authors: São José do Rio Preto School of Medicine, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil.
authors: Luiz T G
authors: LT
authors: Junior
authors: São José do Rio Preto School of Medicine, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil.
authors: José F
authors: JF
authors: Vilela-Martin
authors: Physical Therapy and Physical Education Department, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil.
authors: Martim
authors: M
authors: Bottaro
authors: Physical Therapy and Physical Education Department, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil.
authors: Gerson C
authors: GC
authors: Junior
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D011897:Random Allocation; D013997:Time Factors; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation; D059289:Vascular Stiffness; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: cardiovascular responses; electrical stimulation; tonometry