The combined effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and stretching on muscle hardness and pressure pain threshold

Abstract

[Purpose] This study aimed to clarify the immediate effects of a combined transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and stretching protocol. [Subjects] Fifteen healthy young males volunteered to participate in this study. The inclusion criterion was a straight leg raising range of motion of less than 70 degrees. [Methods] Subjects performed two protocols: 1) stretching (S group) of the medial hamstrings, and 2) tanscutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (100 Hz) with stretching (TS group). The TS group included a 20-minute electrical stimulation period followed by 10 minutes of stretching. The S group performed 10 minutes of stretching. Muscle hardness, pressure pain threshold, and straight leg raising range of motion were analyzed to evaluate the effects. The data were collected before transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (T1), before stretching (T2), immediately after stretching (T3), and 10 minutes after stretching (T4). [Results] Combined transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and stretching had significantly beneficial effects on muscle hardness, pressure pain threshold, and straight leg raising range of motion at T2, T3, and T4 compared with T1. [Conclusion] These results support the belief that transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation combined with stretching is effective in reducing pain and decreasing muscle hardness, thus increasing range of motion.

Edema and pain reduction using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation treatment

“…Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), which is an electrical stimulation method, is known to effectively relieve pain in myofascial pain syndrome and can induce muscular contraction when the intensity and duration of stimulation are adjusted6 ) . As mobile equipment has been developed to facilitate patient access to these treatments, electrical stimulation can be used without respect to location and is currently used by clinics in many areas for pain relief and functional improvement7 ) .…”

La estimulación eléctrica transcutánea de tipo acupuntura como herramienta aceleradora de la recuperación de los tejidos expuestos a sobrecarga vocal

“…El uso de la electroestimulación tiene repercusiones positivas sobre tejidos como los existentes en la región perilaríngea. Se ha indicado que con su aplicación se mejora la vascularización (Machado, Santana, Tacani, & Liebano, 2012) y se disminuye la rigidez muscular (Karasuno et al, 2016). De esta forma, y considerando lo explicado anteriormente, la disminución en la compresión supraglótica y de la sensación de dolor o tensión, son efectos atribuidos al uso de este agente sobre la región perilaríngea.…”

“…En esta investigación se observaron beneficios que implican la disminución de la hiperactividad muscular intrínseca, los que incluyen a la suavización del inicio vocal. Estos cambios son atribuidos a las características de relajación que entrega la corriente utilizada (Karasuno et al, 2016).…”

Low Back Pain; Effectiveness of Tens With or Without Standard Physiotherapy Treatment

“…Muscle spasm is a protective mechanism of muscle that tries to stop or reduce the muscle activity to prevent the muscles from further damage by generating the pain. 6 So if physiotherapist treats the pain with the intervention of TENS then spasm itself reduce and allow the patients to move joints, contract or relax the affected muscles as well as physiotherapists easily initiate their manual treatment or exercises without aggravating the pain on the affected region of the body.…”