Effects of two different intensities of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on pain thresholds of contralateral muscles in healthy subjects.
[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate the differential effects of high-intensity and low-intensity transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on the contralateral side on the pain threshold in healthy subjects. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-five healthy adults, volunteers received two intensity levels (motor-level, 1.5 times the muscle motor threshold; sensory-level, sensory threshold of the common peroneal nerve), for 30 s on separate days. Pressure pain threshold was recorded on the contralateral tibialis anterior and deltoid muscle before, during, and after stimulation. [Results] Motor-level stimulation significantly increased the pressure pain threshold at both muscle sites, while effects of sensory-level stimulation on pressure pain thresholds were significant only at the deltoid site. The percent change in pressure pain thresholds at both sites was significantly higher during motor-level stimulation. [Conclusion] Motor-level stimulation, applied unilaterally to one leg, produced immediate contralateral diffuse and segmental analgesic effects. This may be of therapeutic benefit in patients for whom transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation cannot be directly used at the painful site.
Department of Rehabilitation, Tanabe Orthopaedics Clinic, Japan.
Katsuyoshi
K
Tanaka
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Japan.
Masahiko
M
Ikeuchi
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Japan.
Masashi
M
Izumi
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Japan.
Koji
K
Aso
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Japan.
Natsuki
N
Sugimura
Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health and Welfare, Tokushima Bunri University, Japan.
Hayato
H
Enoki
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kochi Medical School, Japan.
Yasunori
Y
Nagano
Department of Rehabilitation, Kurihara Central Hospital, Japan.
Kenji
K
Ishida
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kubokawa Hospital, Japan.
Toshikazu
T
Tani
Motor-level stimulation; Pressure pain threshold; Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation