title: The combined effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and stretching on muscle hardness and pressure pain threshold.
abstract: [Purpose] This study aimed to clarify the immediate effects of a combined transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and stretching protocol. [Subjects] Fifteen healthy young males volunteered to participate in this study. The inclusion criterion was a straight leg raising range of motion of less than 70 degrees. [Methods] Subjects performed two protocols: 1) stretching (S group) of the medial hamstrings, and 2) tanscutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (100 Hz) with stretching (TS group). The TS group included a 20-minute electrical stimulation period followed by 10 minutes of stretching. The S group performed 10 minutes of stretching. Muscle hardness, pressure pain threshold, and straight leg raising range of motion were analyzed to evaluate the effects. The data were collected before transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (T1), before stretching (T2), immediately after stretching (T3), and 10 minutes after stretching (T4). [Results] Combined transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and stretching had significantly beneficial effects on muscle hardness, pressure pain threshold, and straight leg raising range of motion at T2, T3, and T4 compared with T1. [Conclusion] These results support the belief that transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation combined with stretching is effective in reducing pain and decreasing muscle hardness, thus increasing range of motion.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Social Work Studies, Division of Physical Therapy, Josai International University, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karasuno
authors.affiliation: Koriyama Institute of Health Sciences, Japan.
authors.forename: Hisayoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ogihara
authors.affiliation: Human Health Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morishita
authors.affiliation: Koriyama Institute of Health Sciences, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yokoi
authors.affiliation: Koriyama Institute of Health Sciences, Japan; Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Japan.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ogoma
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Japan.
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abe
keywords: Muscle hardness; Stretching; TENS