NCT02320838

Unmodulated 5 Kilohertz Currents Versus TENS: Effect on Pain Thresholds, Tactile Threshold, and Nerve Conduction

Unmodulated 5 Kilohertz Alternating Currents Versus TENS: Effect on Mechanical and Thermal Pain Thresholds, Tactile Threshold, and Peripheral Nerve Conduction in Humans.

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 38 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Castilla-La Mancha · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 30 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the transcutaneous application of unmodulated 5 Kilohertz (KHz) alternating currents are effective in decreasing the thermal and mechanical experimental pain and cause changes in peripheral nerve conduction. Moreover evidence whether the effect and comfort of this current is greater than Conventional TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) commonly used for the treatment of clinical pain.

Detailed description

In the last years several animal experimental studies have evidenced that high frequency unmodulated currents about 5 KHz can cause a peripheral nerve block. However electric currents with these high frequencies that are usually used for the treatment of pain in humans are interrupted or modulated (i.e. interferential currents) This evidences in animals could have application in pain treatment, characterized by overactive nervous system. For this reason it was decided to compare the effects on experimental pain and peripheral nerve conduction of this new electric current versus sham stimulation and TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation). The scientific literature on transcutaneous electrical stimulation in humans and changes in nerve conduction and / or somatosensory thresholds focuses mainly on TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation). Therefore TENS is a good reference standard to compare the effect of this new currents.

Conditions

• Pain

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	5 KHz	5 KHz transcutaneous electrical stimulation over superficial radial nerve through the electrotherapy device Myomed 932. (Enraf-Nonius, Delft, Netherlands)
DEVICE	TENS	TENS transcutaneous electrical stimulation over superficial radial nerve through the electrotherapy device Myomed 932. (Enraf-Nonius, Delft, Netherlands)
DEVICE	Sham stimulation	Sham transcutaneous electrical stimulation over superficial radial nerve through the electrotherapy device Myomed 932. (Enraf-Nonius, Delft, Netherlands)

Timeline

• Start date: 2014-11-01
• Primary completion: 2015-01-01
• Completion: 2015-02-01
• First posted: 2014-12-19
• Last updated: 2017-07-31
• Results posted: 2017-07-31