Pain
1. Johnson M, Tabasam G.A double blind placebo controlled investigation into the analgesic effects of inferential currents (IFC) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on cold-induced pain in healthy subjects. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice (1999) 15, 217-233
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and Interferential Currents (IFC) are used for the management of painful conditions. It is claimed that the analgesic profiles of TENS and IFC differ although no studies have directly compared the analgesic effects of the two modalities.
The aim of this double blind placebo controlled study was to compare the analgesic effects of TENS and IFC on cold-induced pain in healthy volunteers. Twenty one subjects completed six cycles of the cold-induced pain test (two pre-treatment, two during treatment, and two post-treatment). During each cycle pain threshold was recorded as the time from immersion of the subject' s hand in cold water to the first sensation of pain and pain intensity and unpleasantness ratings were recorded using visual analogue scales.
Subjects received one of the following treatments during the two treatment cycles: IFC, TENS, or sham electrotherapy. IFC and TENS were delivered at a "strong but comfortable" intensity via two electrodes applied over the anterior aspect of the forearm. Sham electrotherapy was administered by a "dummy" stimulator with no current output. All stimulators were visually identical.
RESULTS:
Analysis of the results found that IFC and TENS significantly elevated pain threshold when compared to sham electrotherapy. There were no significant differences in the magnitude of the increase in pain threshold between IFC and TENS. No significant changes in pain intensity or unpleasantness ratings were found between the three treatment groups.
CONCLUSION:
This study concluded that there were no differences in the analgesic effects of IFC and TENS under the present experimental conditions.
2. Zambito, A.Interferential and horizontal therapies in chronic low back pain: a randomized, double blind, clinical study. Clin Exp Rheumatol. Sep-Oct; 24 (5): 534-9 (2006)
CONCLUSION:
3. Melzack, R et. al.Ice massage and transcutaneous electrical stimulation: comparison of treatment for low-back pain. Pain.1980 Oct; 9(2):209-17
Evidence that cold signals are transmitted to the spinal cord exclusively by A-delta fibers and not by C fibers suggests that ice massage provides a potential method for differentiating among the multiple feedback systems that mediate analgesia produced by different forms of intense sensory input.
4. Johnson M, Tabasam G.A double blind placebo controlled investigation into the analgesic effects of inferential currents (IFC) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on cold-induced pain in healthy subjects. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice (1999) 15, 217-233
Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) is one of the most frequent medical problems. Twenty-six men and 94 women with CLBP associated with either degenerative disk disease or previous multiple vertebral osteoporotic fractures were randomly assigned to either interferential currents (IFT), horizontal therapy (HT) or sham HT administered for 10, 40 and 40 minutes, respectively, daily for 5 days per week for two weeks together with a standard flexion-extension stretching exercise program. Blind efficacy assessment were obtained at baseline and at week 2, 6 and 14 and included a functional questionnaire (Backill), the standard visual analog scale (VAS) and the mean analgesic consumption.
RESULTS:
This randomized double-blind controlled study provides the first evidence that IFT and HT therapy are significantly effective in alleviating both pain and disability in patients with CLBP. The placebo effect is remarkable at the beginning of the treatment but it tends to vanish within a couple of weeks.
The purpose of this study was to examine the relative effectiveness of ice massage and TENS for the relief of low-back pain. Patients suffering chronic low-back pain were treated with both ice massage and TENS. The order of treatments was balanced, and changes in the intensity of pain were measured with the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ).
RESULTS:
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and Interferential Currents (IFC) are used for the management of painful conditions. It is claimed that the analgesic profiles of TENS and IFC differ although no studies have directly compared the analgesic effects of the two modalities.
The aim of this double blind placebo controlled study was to compare the analgesic effects of TENS and IFC on cold-induced pain in healthy volunteers. Twenty one subjects completed six cycles of the cold-induced pain test (two pre-treatment, two during treatment, and two post-treatment). During each cycle pain threshold was recorded as the time from immersion of the subject' s hand in cold water to the first sensation of pain and pain intensity and unpleasantness ratings were recorded using visual analogue scales.
Subjects received one of the following treatments during the two treatment cycles: IFC, TENS, or sham electrotherapy. IFC and TENS were delivered at a "strong but comfortable" intensity via two electrodes applied over the anterior aspect of the forearm. Sham electrotherapy was administered by a "dummy" stimulator with no current output. All stimulators were visually identical.
RESULTS:
Analysis of the results found that IFC and TENS significantly elevated pain threshold when compared to sham electrotherapy. There were no significant differences in the magnitude of the increase in pain threshold between IFC and TENS. No significant changes in pain intensity or unpleasantness ratings were found between the three treatment groups.
CONCLUSION:
This study concluded that there were no differences in the analgesic effects of IFC and TENS under the present experimental conditions.
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