Comparison of the Analgesic Effects of Acupuncture and Modulated Electroanalgesia in Cold Induced Pain

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Physiotherapy offers a range of therapeutic modalities for pain management including Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), Interferential current (IC) and Acupuncture. The objective of this study was to investigate the hypoalgesic effect of TENS, CI and Acupuncture in a cold-induced pain model.

Official Title
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Comparison of the Analgesic Effects of Acupuncture and Modulated Electroanalgesia in Cold Induced Pain.

Conditions
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Cold Exposure

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation
* Device: Interferential Current
* Procedure: Manual Acupuncture


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Healthy subjects Exclusion Criteria: Subjects with no history of any kind of disease

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 40 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: TENS 4Hz<br> | Device: Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation<br>* Tens at 4Hz and 100 Hz will be delivered using TENS stimulator (Ibramed/Neurodyn-São Paulo, Brazil)<br>|
| Experimental: Interferential Current 4Hz<br> | Device: Interferential Current<br>* Interferential Current (IC) at 4Hz and 100 Hz will be delivered using IC stimulator (Ibramed/Neurodyn-São Paulo, Brazil)<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: TENS<br> | Device: Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation<br>* Tens at 4Hz and 100 Hz will be delivered using TENS stimulator (Ibramed/Neurodyn-São Paulo, Brazil)<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Interferential Current<br> | Device: Interferential Current<br>* Interferential Current (IC) at 4Hz and 100 Hz will be delivered using IC stimulator (Ibramed/Neurodyn-São Paulo, Brazil)<br>|
| Experimental: Manual Acupuncture<br> | Procedure: Manual Acupuncture<br>* Manual acupuncture will be delivered with sterile needles for each subject in the acupoint TA5 and CS6 localized in the dominant forearm.<br>|
| Experimental: TENS 100 Hz<br> | Device: Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation<br>* Tens at 4Hz and 100 Hz will be delivered using TENS stimulator (Ibramed/Neurodyn-São Paulo, Brazil)<br>|
| Experimental: Interferential Current 100Hz<br> | Device: Interferential Current<br>* Interferential Current (IC) at 4Hz and 100 Hz will be delivered using IC stimulator (Ibramed/Neurodyn-São Paulo, Brazil)<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cold Pain threshold | Cold pain threshold is recorded as the time from immersing the hand in the cold water to pain using a digital timer. | 24 hours | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pain Tolerance threshold | Cold Tolerance threshodl is recorded as the time from immersing the hand in the cold water to maximal pain tolerance using a digital timer. | 24 hours |