Effects of acupuncture and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on cold-induced pain in normal subjects

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Abstract

The effects of acupuncture, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) at high (100 Hz) and low (8 Hz) frequency and placebo on pain induced by cold immersion of the hand were studied in 46 young healthy male and female volunteers. Acupuncture produced significant elevations of pain threshold, while 100 Hz TENS or placebo had no effect. Eight Hertz TENS produced elevation of pain threshold with significant variation in response between individuals. There was some evidence that the L scale score of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire predicted analgesic outcome for 8 Hz TENS. No significant relationship was found between baseline pain threshold or tolerance and personality variables.

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      Tools used to measure subjective rating of pain intensity, such as the visual analogue scale, and pain threshold have known validity and reliability [48–50], but judgements are compromised because they are made against a pain stimulus that has changing temporospatial dimensions. Good test-retest reliability has been reported for pain thresholds and pain intensities measured using pressure algometers [51], the cold pressor technique [39], electrical stimuli [52] and a CO2 laser [53], although all techniques have limitations [21,54,55]. For example, faster rates of application of force can lead to overestimates of pain threshold measured using pressure algometers [56].

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    This research was supported by the Medical Research Council grant number G8108158N.

    Present address: Department of Anatomy, The Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE2 4HH, England.

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