Mark I Johnson1, Ghazala Tabasam. 1. Scool of Health Sciences, Faculty of health and Environment, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, UK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the analgesic effects of different amplitude-modulated frequencies of interferential current therapy (IFT) on cold-induced pain in healthy subjects. DESIGN: Single-blind parallel group methodology was used. Subjects completed 6 cycles of the cold-induced pain test (2 pretreatment, 2 during treatment, 2 posttreatment). During each cycle, subjects plunged their hand into iced water and the time taken to reach pain threshold was recorded. The hand remained immersed in the iced water for a further 30 seconds, after which the self-reports of pain intensity and pain unpleasantness were recorded. SETTING: Laboratory in the United Kingdom. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty unpaid, pain-free volunteers without a known pathology that could cause pain. INTERVENTIONS:IFT delivered on the nondominant arm at a "strong but comfortable" intensity without visible muscle twitches, using a quadripolar application technique at 1 of 6 possible amplitude modulated "beat" frequencies (20, 60, 100, 140, 180, 220Hz). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The percentage change in pain threshold, pain intensity, and pain unpleasantness from the pretreatment baseline. RESULTS: Two-way repeated-measures analyses of variance found no effects for groups for pain threshold (P=.11) or pain ratings (P>.05). There were no effects for cycle for any of the outcome measures. Effects for group by cycle interaction were noted for pain intensity and unpleasantness ratings (P<.05), although post hoc analysis failed to determine the nature of this interaction. CONCLUSIONS: Experimentally induced cold pain was not influenced by IFT frequencies.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the analgesic effects of different amplitude-modulated frequencies of interferential current therapy (IFT) on cold-induced pain in healthy subjects. DESIGN: Single-blind parallel group methodology was used. Subjects completed 6 cycles of the cold-induced pain test (2 pretreatment, 2 during treatment, 2 posttreatment). During each cycle, subjects plunged their hand into icedwater and the time taken to reach pain threshold was recorded. The hand remained immersed in the icedwater for a further 30 seconds, after which the self-reports of pain intensity and pain unpleasantness were recorded. SETTING: Laboratory in the United Kingdom. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty unpaid, pain-free volunteers without a known pathology that could cause pain. INTERVENTIONS: IFT delivered on the nondominant arm at a "strong but comfortable" intensity without visible muscle twitches, using a quadripolar application technique at 1 of 6 possible amplitude modulated "beat" frequencies (20, 60, 100, 140, 180, 220Hz). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The percentage change in pain threshold, pain intensity, and pain unpleasantness from the pretreatment baseline. RESULTS: Two-way repeated-measures analyses of variance found no effects for groups for pain threshold (P=.11) or pain ratings (P>.05). There were no effects for cycle for any of the outcome measures. Effects for group by cycle interaction were noted for pain intensity and unpleasantness ratings (P<.05), although post hoc analysis failed to determine the nature of this interaction. CONCLUSIONS: Experimentally induced cold pain was not influenced by IFT frequencies.
Authors: U A Walker; M Uhl; S M Weiner; K Warnatz; A Lange-Nolde; H Dertinger; H H Peter; S A Jurenz Journal: Rheumatol Int Date: 2006-01-24 Impact factor: 2.631
Authors: Yee Ian Yik; Melanie C C Clarke; Anthony G Catto-Smith; Val J Robertson; Jonathan R Sutcliffe; Janet W Chase; Susan Gibb; Timothy M Cain; David J Cook; Coral F Tudball; John M Hutson; Bridget R Southwell Journal: Pediatr Surg Int Date: 2011-03-04 Impact factor: 1.827