Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a pain modulation tool which is commonly used clinically. TENS has 2 major modes: conventional TENS'' and acupuncture like TENS. Conventional TENS induces a local pain modulation, whereas acupuncture like TENS induces central pain modulation mechanism. The pain threshold at treatment area and outside of area is regarded as local pain modulation and central pain modulation respectively. However, the effect of acupuncture like TENS on pain threshold was remained unclear. TENS also induces cortical activities changed in the central nervous system. Recent Electroencephalography (EEG) studies suggested that TENS induces event-related potential and power spectrum changes, however, the time and frequency bands of EEG changes and its relationship with pain threshold were still unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to understand the effects of conventional versus acupuncture-like TENS on pain threshold, brain activities, and their relationships.
The purpose of this study was to understand the effects of conventional versus acupuncture-like TENS on pain threshold, brain activities, and their relationships.