A controlled study on the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and interferential therapy upon the RIII nociceptive and H-reflexes in humans

• Published in: Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation Vol. 81; no. 3; pp. 324 - 333
• Main Authors: Cramp, Fiona L., Noble, Gareth, Lowe, Andrea S., Walsh, Deirdre M., Willer, Jean Claude
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.03.2000; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Diseases of the nervous system; Double-Blind Method; Female; H-Reflex; Humans; Interferential therapy; Male; Medical sciences; Nociceptors; Pain Measurement; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Reflex; RIII reflex; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation; Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation; Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation; Interferential therapy; RIII reflex; Human; Nociceptive reflex; Peripheral nerve; Electrical stimulus; Interference; H-Reflex; Instrumentation therapy; Nervous system; Percutaneous route; Instrumental stimulation; Double blind study; Adult; Frequency; Technique; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0003-9993; 1532-821X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0003-9993(00)90079-0

Objective: To study the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and interferential therapy (IFT) upon the RIII nociceptive reflex and H-reflex. Design: Double-blind conditions. Participants: Seventy healthy subjects were randomly allocated t to one of seven groups (n = 10 per group): Control, TENS 1 (5Hz), TENS 2 (100Hz), TENS 3 (200Hz), IFT 1 (5Hz), IFT 2 (100Hz), IFT 3 (200Hz). Intervention: In the treatment groups, stimulation was applied over the right sural nerve for 15 minutes. Main outcome Measures: Ipsilateral RIII and H-reflexes were recorded before treatment, immediately after treatment, and subsequently at 25, 35, and 45 minutes. Subjects rated the pain associated with the RIII reflex using a computerized visual analogue scale(VAS). Result: Statistical analysis using ANOVA showed no significant differences between baseline and posttreatment measurement for RIII reflex, H-reflex, or VAS data. Conclusion: These results suggest that neither type of electrical stimulation (TENS or IFT) affects the RIII or H-reflexes, at least using the parameters and application time in this study.