Effects of TENS on Pain Threshold and Brain Activities in Healthy Adults

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University40 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study was to understand the effects of conventional versus acupuncture-like TENS on pain threshold, brain activities, and their relationships.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a pain modulation tool which is commonly used clinically. TENS has 2 major modes: "conventional TENS'' and "acupuncture like TENS". Conventional TENS induces a local pain modulation, whereas acupuncture like TENS induces central pain modulation mechanism. The pain threshold at treatment area and outside of area is regarded as local pain modulation and central pain modulation respectively. However, the effect of acupuncture like TENS on pain threshold was remained unclear. TENS also induces cortical activities changed in the central nervous system. Recent Electroencephalography (EEG) studies suggested that TENS induces event-related potential and power spectrum changes, however, the time and frequency bands of EEG changes and its relationship with pain threshold were still unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to understand the effects of conventional versus acupuncture-like TENS on pain threshold, brain activities, and their relationships.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Electroencephalography Pressure Pain Threshold

Interventions

Acupuncture like TENSDEVICE

Frequency: 4 Hz, pulse duration: 200 μs, intensity: 3/10 painful sensation with muscle contraction , time: 30 minutes

Conventional TENSDEVICE

Frequency: 100 Hz, pulse duration: 200 μs, intensity: strong but comfortable tingling sensation , time: 30 minutes

Sham TENSDEVICE

Frequency: 4 Hz, pulse duration: 200 μs, intensity: tingling sensation, time: turn on the electricity for 15 seconds, then turn off the machine for 30 minutes

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 20 YearsMax age: 65 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * 20\~65 y adults * No cognitive function problem * Without taking any type of pain medication or substances that could affect the cognitive functions Exclusion Criteria: * Peripheral or central nervous system disease * Sensory lose * TENS application is contraindication * Cardiac pacemaker * Any type of pain

Locations (1)

National Yang-Ming University

Taipei, Taiwan

RECRUITING

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Pressure pain threshold after the intervention

Use a pressure algometer to press on the first dorsal interosseous muscle and the pressure would stop until the feeling changes from non-painful feeling to painful feeling.

Time frame: The change between baseline and the time after 30 minutes intervention

Pressure pain tolerance after the intervention

Use a pressure algometer to press on the first dorsal interosseous muscle and the pressure would stop until the feeling reach the pain intensity at 5/10.

Time frame: The change between baseline and the time after 30 minutes intervention

EEG power spectrum change in delta band after the intervention

Evaluate brain activity after the intervention

Time frame: The change between baseline and the time after 30 minutes intervention

EEG power spectrum change in theta band after the intervention

Evaluate brain activity after the intervention

Time frame: The change between baseline and the time after 30 minutes intervention

EEG power spectrum change in alpha band after the intervention

Evaluate brain activity after the intervention

Time frame: The change between baseline and the time after 30 minutes intervention

EEG power spectrum change in beta band after the intervention

Evaluate brain activity after the intervention

Time frame: The change between baseline and the time after 30 minutes intervention

EEG power spectrum change in low-gamma band after the intervention

Evaluate brain activity after the intervention

Central Contacts

Li-Wei Chou, PhD

CONTACT

+886228267092 lwchou@ym.edu.tw

Heng-Chi Hsu

CONTACT

0984443386 sidcanfly880122.be10@nycu.edu.tw

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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Secondary Outcomes

Pressure pain tolerance after the 30 minutes break

Use a pressure algometer to press on the first dorsal interosseous muscle and the pressure would stop until the feeling reach the pain intensity at 5/10.