The Effect of Frequency Modulation in TENS on Habituation and Pain Threshold

Summary

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine whether application of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is effective on habituation to electrical current whether delivered at a fixed frequency of 100 Hz or at patterned frequency. The secondary purposes are to determine the effectiveness on mechanical pressure pain and the subjective perception of the subjects regarding habituation and comfort of the different stimulations.

Conditions

• Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

Interventions

DEVICE

TENS: Randomized frequency modulation

Transcutaneous application of Conventional TENS current over the course of the superficial radial nerve in the right forearm for a 20 minutes session. The intensity of the current will increase until participants report a "strong but comfortable" sensation, just Transcutaneous application of Conventional TENS current over the course of the superficial radial nerve in the right forearm for a 20 minutes session. The intensity of the current will increase until participants report a "strong but comfortable" sensation, just below motor threshold. Currents parameters are: Frequency modulation: randomized pattern (from 80 to 120 Hz) Pulse width 200 microseconds

DEVICE

TENS: Scan 6/6 of frequency modulation

Transcutaneous application of Conventional TENS current over the course of the superficial radial nerve in the right forearm for a 20 minutes session. The intensity of the current will increase until participants report a "strong but comfortable" sensation, just below motor threshold. Currents parameters are: Frequency modulation: Scan of frequency from 80 to 120 Hz in 6/6 mode (frequency sweep from 80 Hz to 120 Hz in 6 seconds and from 120 to 80 Hz in 6 secons) Pulse width 200 microseconds

DEVICE

TENS: Fixed frequency

Transcutaneous application of Conventional TENS current over the course of the superficial radial nerve in the right forearm for a 20 minutes session. The intensity of the current will increase until participants report a "strong but comfortable" sensation, just below motor threshold. Currents parameters are: Fixed frequency at 100 Hz Pulse width 200 microseconds

DEVICE

Sham Stimulation

Electrodes are placed over the course of the superficial radial nerve in the right forearm for a 20 minutes in the same manner as experimental groups, but will be applied a sham electrical stimulation increasing the current intensity of an unconnected channel.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Castilla-La Mancha

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Juan Avendaño-Coy, PhD · University of Castilla-La Mancha

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

30 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2017-07-03

Primary Completion

2017-09-05

Completion

2017-09-30

Countries

• Spain

Study Locations