Pressure and cold pain threshold in healthy subjects undergoing interferential current at different amplitude modulated frequencies

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The interferential current is an electrical stimulation method widely used with analgesic purposes; however, there are controversies regarding their usage parameters. The aim of this study was to compare different amplitude modulated frequencies of the interferential current on the pressure and cold pain threshold in healthy volunteers. METHODS: This is a crossover, randomized and blinded evaluators and evaluated in quantitative character test. Participants were 20 volunteers divided into four groups, who for four weeks were subject to different modulated frequencies. Thresholds of pressure and cold pain in four different times were evaluated - at the beginning, right after electric stimulation, 20 and 60 minutes after. As a form of electrical stimulation, interferential current was used at modulated amplitude frequencies of 1Hz, 10Hz and 100Hz with base frequency of 4,000Hz, being that in a particular week volunteers received placebo (0Hz). RESULTS: There has been no significant difference in comparisons within frequencies or between them and the placebo group. CONCLUSION: The use of amplitude modulated frequencies of interferential current of 1Hz, 10Hz and 100Hz did not change cold and pressure pain thresholds, similar to what has been found for the placebo group...