Effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation at auricular points on experimental cutaneous pain threshold

The purposes of this study were 1) to examine the effect of high intensity, low frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation at auricular acupuncture points on experimental pain threshold measured at the wrist and 2) to determine the changes in effect over time. Forty-four healthy adult men and women were assigned randomly to one of three treatment groups. Group 1 (n = 15) received TENS to appropriate auricular points for wrist pain, Group 2 (n = 14) received TENS to inappropriate (placebo) auricular points, and Group 3 (n = 15) received no TENS. We measured experimental pain threshold at the wrist after an electrical stimulus during one pretreatment and three posttreatment time periods. Group 1 was the only group that had a statistically significant increase (p less than .05) in pain threshold after testing. This increase remained significant for all posttreatment measurements for Group 1. These results suggest that high intensity, low frequency TENS applied to appropriate auricular acupuncture points can increase pain threshold.     

Effects of auricular transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on distal extremity pain: a pilot study

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the effectiveness of auricular acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on pain. Fifteen subjects (6 men, 9 women) experiencing distal extremity pain received either one placebo pill or a 10-minute treatment of acupuncture-like TENS bilaterally to five acupuncture points on the auricle. Pain levels were measured before treatment and at 0, 10, and 30 minutes posttreatment using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the pain rating index (PRI) of the McGill Pain Questionnaire. The VAS showed no statistically significant differences between Experimental Group (n = 8) and Control Group (n = 7) means at pretreatment or posttreatment; however, both groups showed a reduction in VAS means over time. The Experimental and Control Group means on the PRI were significantly different (p less than .05) at all three posttreatment measurements, but not at pretreatment baseline measurement. These results suggest that auricular acupuncture-like TENS could be an alternative for relief of distal extremity pain. Additional clinical studies are necessary to validate the results of this study.     

Effects of unilateral and bilateral auricular transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on cutaneous pain threshold

This study compared the effects of unilateral and bilateral auricular transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on cutaneous pain threshold. Auricular acupuncture points were stimulated with low frequency, high intensity TENS for 45 seconds. Sixty healthy, adult subjects were assigned randomly to one of two treatment groups or to a control group. The two treatment groups received low frequency, high intensity TENS either unilaterally or bilaterally. The control group did not receive auricular stimulation. Experimental pain threshold at the left wrist was determined with a painful stimulus before and after auricular stimulation. Both unilateral and bilateral auricular stimulation groups exhibited a significant increase (p less than .05) in experimental pain threshold, but the control group did not. The mean change values between the unilateral and bilateral stimulation groups were not statistically different. These results suggest that both unilateral and bilateral auricular TENS can increase pain threshold.     

Effects of auricular transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on experimental pain threshold

This study was conducted to examine the effects of high intensity transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation at auricular acupuncture points on experimental pain threshold. Forty-five healthy adult male and female subjects were assigned randomly to one of two treatment groups or to a control group. Subjects in the two treatment groups received high intensity TENS to either appropriate or inappropriate (placebo) acupuncture points on one ear. Experimental pain threshold at the ipsilateral wrist was determined with a painful electrical stimulus before and after ear stimulation. Only the group receiving stimulation of appropriate ear acupuncture points exhibited a significant increase (p less than .01) in experimental pain threshold after ear stimulation. The comparable placebo and control groups, again, did not exhibit significant pretest-posttest differences in experimental pain threshold. The results suggest that, if applied accurately, auricular TENS can increase pain threshold. Further research is needed to assess the effects of this technique on patient groups.     

Auricular transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) reduces phantom limb pain

The present paper evaluates the efficacy of low frequency, high intensity auricular transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for the relief of phantom limb pain. Auricular TENS was compared with a no-stimulation placebo condition using a controlled crossover design in a group of amputees with (1) phantom limb pain (Group PLP), (2) nonpainful phantom limb sensations (Group PLS), and (3) no phantom limb at all (Group No PL). Small, but significant, reductions in the intensity of nonpainful phantom limb sensations were found for Group PLS during the TENS but not the placebo condition. In addition, 10 min after receiving auricular TENS, Group PLP demonstrated a modest, yet statistically significant decrease in pain as measured by the McGill Pain Questionnaire. Ratings of mood, sleepiness, and anxiety remained virtually unchanged across test occasions and sessions, indicating that the decrease in pain was not mediated by emotional factors. Further placebo-controlled trials of auricular TENS in patients with phantom limb pain are recommended in order to evaluate the importance of electrical stimulation parameters such as pulse width and rate, and to establish the duration of pain relief.     

Effect of helium-neon laser auriculotherapy on experimental pain threshold

This study was conducted to examine the effects of helium-neon laser auriculotherapy on experimental pain threshold. Eighty healthy female and male subjects, aged 18 to 39 years, were assigned randomly to one of two treatment groups. Subjects in the Experimental Group (n = 41) received laser stimulation, and subjects in the Control Group (n = 39) received sham stimulation to appropriate acupuncture points on the left ear. Experimental pain threshold at the ipsilateral wrist was determined with an electrical stimulus immediately before and after treatment. The mean change (posttreatment minus pretreatment) for the Experimental Group was greater than the mean change for the Control Group (p less than .05). The Experimental Group demonstrated a statistically significant (p less than .05) increase in mean pain threshold after treatment, but the Control Group did not. Results indicate that helium-neon laser auriculotherapy can increase experimental pain threshold and suggest a possible alternative for patients intolerant of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.     

The therapeutic efficacy of somatic acupuncture is not increased by auriculotherapy: a randomised, blind control study in cervical myofascial pain

Auriculotherapy (ear acupuncture) is a therapeutic technique in which points on the auricle are stimulated with needles. Usually it is combined with somatic acupuncture because of possible synergy, although the efficacy of this pairing has neither been confirmed nor disproved. The aim of this study was to verify: (1) if somatic acupuncture can reduce myofascial cervical pain; (2) if concomitant auriculotherapy improves the efficacy of somatic acupuncture. A group of 62 patients affected by cervical myofascial pain was randomly divided into two groups of 31. Group A (6 males and 25 females) underwent eight sessions of somatic acupuncture. Group B (7 males and 24 females) underwent eight sessions of somatic acupuncture in the same way as group A, paired with auriculotherapy. Pain was scored using the McGill Pain Questionnaire before and at the end of treatment, and 1 and 3 months later. The results showed that both somatic acupuncture and somatic plus ear acupuncture have a positive effect in reducing pain. The pain intensity score was 40.70 +/- 17.78 in group A before therapy and 13.32 +/- 9.62 after therapy; in group B it was 38.90 +/- 15.31 and 13.43 +/- 10.96. Somatic plus auriculotherapy was therefore not statistically significantly superior to somatic therapy alone in the treatment of cervical myofascial pain.     

The effects of auricular transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on experimental pain threshold and autonomic function in healthy subjects.

The present study examines the effects of auricular transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on electrical pain threshold measured at the ipsilateral wrist and autonomic functions including skin temperature, blood pressure and pulse rate in 24 healthy subjects. TENS was administered as low frequency trains of pulses delivered at a 'strong but comfortable' intensity to 1 of 3 auricular points to be examined: (i) autonomic effects (autonomic point), (ii) pain threshold effects (wrist point), and (iii) placebo effects at an unrelated point (face point). A fourth untreated group was designated as a situation control. The main finding of the study was that auricular TENS produced no significant overall effects on experimental pain threshold or autonomic functions recorded under the present conditions. However, pain threshold was found to increase by over 50% of its pretreatment baseline in 4 subjects and by 30% in 6 subjects. This rise was not dependent upon the site of auricular TENS. The possible mechanisms of such changes are discussed.     

The effects of electro-acupuncture and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on patients with painful osteoarthritic knees: a randomized controlled trial with follow-up evaluation

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relative effectiveness of electro-acupuncture (EA) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in alleviating osteoarthritic (OA)-induced knee pain. DESIGN: Single-blinded, randomized controlled study. SUBJECTS: Twenty-four (24) subjects (23 women and 1 man), mean age 85, were recruited from eight subsidized Care & Attention Homes for the elderly. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects were randomly assigned to the EA, TENS, or control groups. Subjects in the EA group (n = 8) received low-frequency EA (2 Hz) on two acupuncture points (ST-35, Dubi and EX-LE-4, Neixiyan) of the painful knee for 20 minutes. Subjects in the TENS group (n = 8) received low-frequency TENS of 2 Hz and pulse width of 200 micros on the same acupuncture points for 20 minutes. In both treatment groups, electrical treatment was carried out for a total of eight sessions in 2 weeks. Eight subjects received osteoarthritic knee care and education only in a control group. All subjects were evaluated before the first treatment, after the last treatment, and at 2-week follow-up periods. RESULTS: After eight sessions of treatment, there was significant reduction of knee pain in both EA group and TENS group, as measured by the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) of pain (p < 0.01). Prolonged analgesic effect was maintained in the EA and the TENS groups at a 2-week follow-up evaluation. The Timed Up-and-Go Test (TUGT) score of the EA group was significantly lower than that of the control group (p < 0.05), but such change was not observed in the TENS group. CONCLUSIONS: Both EA and TENS treatments were effective in reducing OA-induced knee pain. EA had the additional advantage of enhancing the TUGT results as opposed to TENS treatment or no treatment, which did not produce such corollary effect.     

耳针、体针、耳体针结合治疗单纯性肥胖

目的探讨针灸减肥的机制和疗效.方法将1996-08/1999-07月间就诊的195例患者随机分为体针组(64例)、耳针组(55例)、耳体针结合组(76例).140例须体针治疗者分胃肠实热(88例)、脾虚湿阻(34例)、肾气不足(11例)、肝郁气滞(7例)4型治疗,视不同证型施与相应补泻手法.131例须耳针治疗者分胃肠实热(85例)、脾虚湿阻(31例)、肾气不足(9例)、肝郁气滞(6例)4型治疗.结果体针组总有效率81.3%、耳体针结合组总有效率93.4%、耳针组总有效率49.9%;体针组、耳体针结合组临床疗效明显优于耳针组(P＜0.05),体针组与耳体针结合组比较,差异无显著性意义(P＞0.05),但耳体针结合组总有效率明显高于体针组;体针组四型间总有效率差异无显著性意义(P＞0.05);耳针组胃肠实热型与脾虚湿阻、肾气不足、肝郁气滞三型比较P均＜0.05,疗效较好.结论针灸治疗肥胖病取效的关键是辨证取穴,应该多经脉多穴位结合起来考虑问题.有些穴位在不同证型看来似有重复,但由于配穴不同,手法有异,针刺治疗作用也就不同.耳针治疗肥胖对某些证型疗效较好,但若配合体针治疗则相得益彰.     

耳穴疗法镇痛的研究进展

耳穴疗法具有起效快、操作简便、价格低廉的优势,在不同性质和部位的疼痛治疗中发挥着重要作用。本文介绍了耳穴疗法镇痛的作用机制、评估方法及影响因素;归纳了耳穴疗法镇痛的干预方式,包括耳针、耳穴贴压、耳穴放血、耳穴注射和耳穴综合疗法等,以期为今后耳穴疗法镇痛的临床应用和相关研究提供参考。     

Response of plasma beta-endorphins to transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in healthy subjects

A study of 31 healthy volunteers was done to test the hypothesis that analgesia produced by low frequency/high intensity (LoF/Hil) transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is mediated by release of beta-endorphin (beta-E). After randomization, Group 1 (n = 10) received no stimulation (placebo); Group 2 (n = 9) received 30 minutes of high frequency/low intensity (HiF/Lol) TENS; and Group 3 (n = 12) received 30 minutes of low frequency/high density (LoF/Hil) TENS. Blood pressure, pulse, plasma beta-E levels, and evoked potential response were measured before and after treatment. Mean plasma beta-E increased with treatment in Groups 2 and 3 and fell in Group 1, but the difference between the groups was not statistically significant. Sixty-seven percent of Groups 2 and 3 showed an increase in plasma beta-E levels compared with 30 percent in Group 1 (two-sample test of proportions, p less than .05). Evoked potential response, a measure of pain threshold, varied directly with plasma beta-E level independent of the type of treatment applied. This study did not demonstrate a difference between the effects of HiF/Lol versus Lof/Hil TENS on plasma beta-E in healthy subjects.     

Effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on human blood beta-endorphin levels

We randomly assigned 42 subjects for treatment with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) to one of three groups: conventional TENS--80 Hz; low frequency TENS--2 Hz; and a control group--TENS without batteries. Pain threshold measurements and blood beta-endorphin levels were obtained at regular intervals before, during, and for 17 hours after TENS application. We found no significant difference in blood beta-endorphin levels between the groups before, during, or immediately after TENS application. The differences in pain threshold and beta-endorphin levels appeared to be a function of the patient-selection process and not the application of TENS. The results indicated that TENS, with the stimulation characteristics used in this study, did not significantly change the measured plasma levels of beta-endorphin. The blind administration of naloxone hydrochloride, an opiate antagonist, did not significantly alter the perceived experimental pain of these subjects. We could find no evidence that TENS altered experimental pain threshold or plasma beta-endorphin levels.     

Acupuncture as an adjunct for sedation during lithotripsy

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a combination of auricular and body acupuncture is effective as an adjunct for the preprocedural anxiety and pain management in patients undergoing lithotripsy procedures. DESIGN: Randomized controlled study. SETTING AND LOCATION: Lithotripsy suite located at the Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven CT. SUBJECTS: Adult patients who were scheduled to receive elective lithotripsy procedures. INTERVENTIONS: Acupuncture group: Preprocedural auricular acupuncture intervention combined with intraprocedural electroacupuncture stimulation (n = 29); Sham control group: Preprocedural sham auricular acupuncture intervention combined with intraprocedural sham electroacupuncture stimulation (n = 27). OUTCOMES MEASUREMENT: Preprocedural anxiety, intraprocedural alfentanil consumption, visual analogue scale for pain. RESULTS: Patients in the acupuncture group were less anxious preprocedure than those in the Sham Control Group 32 (29-34) versus 40 (35-45) (p = 0.029). Similarly, patients in the Acupuncture Group used a lesser amount of alfentanil than those in the sham control group (p = 0.040). The adjustable alfentanil consumption as expressed by median rate of alfentanil consumption of 1 (0.6-1.6) microg kg(-1) minute(-1) in the acupuncture group was lower than that of 1.5 (0.9-2.3) microg kg(-1) minute(-1) in the sham control group. Patients in the Acupuncture group also reported lower pain scores on admission to the recovery room (p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: A combination of auricular and body acupuncture can be used as an adjunct treatment to decrease preprocedural anxiety and intraprocedural analgesia in patients undergoing lithotripsy.     

耳穴贴压防治阿片类药物所致便秘的系统评价

[目的]系统评价耳穴贴压防治阿片类药物所致便秘的有效性及安全性,并探讨耳穴贴压防治阿片类药物所致便秘的选穴规律。[方法]计算机检索数据库,中文检索包括中国知网数据库(CNKI)、中国维普数据库(VIP)、中国生物医学数据库(CBM)、万方数据库(WanFang),英文检索PubMed、Embase、The Cochrane library数据库,检索耳穴贴压防治癌痛病人应用阿片类药物所致便秘的随机对照试验(RCT)。[结果]共纳入研究9个,总计870例病人。Meta分析结果显示:耳穴贴压防治癌症病人使用阿片类药物后所致便秘的总有效率优于对照组[OR=4.09,95%CI(2.91,5.75),Z=8.13,P<0.01]。耳穴贴压频次统计5次以上的穴位为大肠、脾、直肠下段、便秘点、三焦。[结论]耳穴贴压可有效防治癌症病人使用阿片类药物后所致便秘,耳穴贴压防治癌症病人使用阿片类药物后所致便秘避免了口服药物产生的肠胃刺激,在安全性上更具优势。其选穴多以大肠、脾、直肠下段、便秘点、三焦为主,以达到通调肠府,刺激肠蠕动的作用。     

A randomized clinical trial of TENS and exercise for patients with chronic neck pain

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on acupuncture points and neck exercise in chronic neck pain patients. DESIGN: A randomized clinical trial. SETTING: Hospital-based practice. SUBJECTS: Two hundred and eighteen patients with chronic neck pain. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects were randomized into three groups, receiving either (1) TENS over the acupuncture points plus infrared irradiation (TENS group); (2) exercise training plus infrared irradiation (exercise group); or (3) infrared irradiation alone (control); twice a week for six weeks. OUTCOME MEASURES: The values of verbal numeric pain scale, Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire, and isometric neck muscle strength were assessed before, at the end of the six-week treatment, and at the six-month follow-up. RESULTS: Results demonstrated that after the six-week treatment, significant improvement in the verbal numerical pain scale was found only in the TENS group (0.60+/-2.54, p = 0.027) and the exercise group (1.57+/-2.67, p < 0.001). Though significant reduction in Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire score was found in all three groups, post-hoc tests showed that both the TENS and the exercise group produced better improvement (0.38+/-0.60% and 0.39+/-0.62% respectively) than the control group (0.23+/-0.63%). Significant improvement (p = < 0.001 to 0.03) in neck muscle strength was observed in all three groups, however, the improvement in the control group was not clinically significant and it could not be maintained at the six-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: After the six-week treatment, patients in the TENS and exercise group had a better and clinically relevant improvement in disability, isometric neck muscle strength, and pain. All the improvements in the intervention groups were maintained at the six-month follow-up.     

耳穴压豆在行消化道内镜下黏膜剥离术患者中的应用

目的 探讨耳穴压豆在行消化道内镜下黏膜剥离术患者中的应用效果.方法 选取2018年1～11月在我科行择期消化道ESD术的患者200例,采用随机数字表法将其分为观察组和对照组,每组100例.对照组采用常规护理方法,观察组在对照组基础上实施耳穴压豆治疗.结果观察组焦虑、疼痛评分、腹胀发生率均低于对照组(t=-6.085,P...     

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in the relief of primary dysmenorrhea

The purpose of this study was to replicate a previous study to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in treating primary dysmenorrhea. Twenty-one women with dysmenorrhea received a placebo pill or 30 minutes of acupuncture-like TENS. All subjects completed two pain questionnaires before treatment; immediately posttreatment; 30, 60, 120, and 180 minutes posttreatment; and the next morning upon awakening. Each woman also participated in a separate study measuring electrical resistance at four auricular acupuncture points before and immediately after treatment. The data were analyzed with a two-factor repeated-measures analysis of variance, which revealed statistical significance over time but not for group or interaction between group and time. Results revealed an average pain relief of at least 50% immediately posttreatment, indicating that acupuncture-like TENS may be useful for dysmenorrheic pain. This study also suggests that auriculotherapy via acupressure may relieve the pain of primary dysmenorrhea.     

不同耳穴刺激对维持性血液透析患者睡眠质量的影响

目的探讨不同耳穴组合刺激对维持性血液透析(MHD)患者睡眠质量的影响。方法用匹兹堡睡眠质量指数(PSQI)测评MHD患者睡眠质量,选取90例MHD伴睡眠障碍(PSQI≥10分)患者随机均分为3组,即对照组(采用MHD患者常规护理)、耳穴组合1组(选双耳神门、肝、心、肾穴,耳穴组合刺激)、耳穴组合2组(选双耳肩、肘、腰、踝穴,耳穴组合刺激),比较治疗前及治疗2周后3组PSQI总分、睡眠质量、入睡时间、睡眠时间、睡眠效率、睡眠障碍、日间功能障碍。结果对照组治疗前后各项观察指标差异无统计学意义(P0.05);耳穴组合1组的PSQI总分、睡眠质量、睡眠时间、睡眠效率、睡眠障碍、日间功能障碍与对照组和耳穴组合2组比较,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);耳穴组合2组睡眠时间及睡眠效率与对照组比较,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论耳穴刺激可显著改善MHD患者睡眠障碍,且病症相关耳穴的效果显著优于非相关穴位。