High Frequency RF Current Effects on Muscle Pain and Function

Summary

The purpose of this study is to examine the acute and chronic effects of high frequency electrical current transfer (frequently called "TECAR") on pain and functional movement in individuals with a musculoskeletal injury or pain. The participants will be assigned into an experimental or a control group and outcome measures will be measured prior to, after, 24 and 48 hours following a single intervention session (Acute effects) as well as 3 and 6 months after the intervention (chronic effects).

Conditions

• Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation
• Chronic Low-back Pain
• Hamstring Injury
• Muscle; Injury, Quadriceps (Thigh)
• Physical Therapy
• Calf Muscle Pulled
• Acute Low Back Pain

Interventions

DEVICE

Radiofrequency Energy Transfer

Radiofrequency Electrical Currents (TECAR) will be delivered using a winback system (Winback, Villeneuve-Loubet, France) propagating radiofrequency waves of 448 kHz using metallic electrodes via a coupling medium. Radiofrequencies will be used in the capacitive mode , which aims to treat superficial /soft tissues in the area. The "active" plate will be applied sequentially on the skin in the injured or painful region. The base plate will be located to the other side of the injured body region (for back thigh muscle injuries, for example, the base plate will be located on the frontal thigh area, to close the current circuit. Therapy will be applied for 20 minutes, with a target intensity of 40% and a frequency of 0.5Mhz.

DEVICE

Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation

Transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TENS) will be delivered using a Chattanooga Intellect Advanced Combo system (Chattanooga, Hixson, TN 3 7343, USA). Two electrodes will be placed on the skin at a distance so that they cover the entire painful area. The TENS asymmetric biphasic mode (phase 300 ms, frequency 80Hz, continuous cycle) will be applied. The intensity will be adjusted between 0 and 110A, such that it is tolerable by the participant. The total application time will be 20 minutes or equal to that applied for the TECAR group.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Aristotle University Of Thessaloniki

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Eleftherios Kellis, Ph.D. · Professor

• Thomas Apostolou, M.D. · International Hellenic University

• Paris Iakovidis, Ph.D. · International Hellenic University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-04-30

Primary Completion

2028-05-31

Completion

2029-12-31

Countries

• Greece

Study Locations