Effect of percutaneous electrical stimulation with high-frequency alternating currents at 30 kHz on the sensory-motor system
BackgroundUnmodulated high-frequency alternating currents (HFAC) are employed for producing peripheral nerves block. HFAC have been applied in humans with frequencies up to 20 kHz, whether transcutaneously, percutaneously, or via surgically-implanted electrodes. The aim of this study was to assess t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2023.1048986/full |
| _version_ | 1811168321010139136 |
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| author | David Martín-Caro Álvarez Diego Serrano-Muñoz Juan José Fernández-Pérez Julio Gómez-Soriano Juan Avendaño-Coy |
| author_facet | David Martín-Caro Álvarez Diego Serrano-Muñoz Juan José Fernández-Pérez Julio Gómez-Soriano Juan Avendaño-Coy |
| author_sort | David Martín-Caro Álvarez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundUnmodulated high-frequency alternating currents (HFAC) are employed for producing peripheral nerves block. HFAC have been applied in humans with frequencies up to 20 kHz, whether transcutaneously, percutaneously, or via surgically-implanted electrodes. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of percutaneous HFAC, applied with ultrasound-guided needles at 30 kHz, on the sensory-motor nerve conduction of healthy volunteers.MethodsA parallel, double-blind, randomized clinical trial with a placebo control was conducted. Percutaneous HFAC at 30 kHz or sham stimulation was applied via ultrasound-guided needles in 48 healthy volunteers (n = 24 in each group) for 20 min. The assessed outcome variables were pressure pain threshold (PPT), mechanical detection threshold (MDT), maximal finger flexion strength (MFFS), antidromic sensory nerve action potential (SNAP), hand temperature, and subjective sensations by the participants. The measurements were recorded pre-intervention, during the stimulation (at 15 min), immediately post-intervention (at 20 min), and 15 min after the end of treatment.ResultsThe PPT increased in the active group compared with sham stimulation, both during the intervention [14.7%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.4–25.0], immediately post-intervention (16.9%; 95% CI: −7.2–26.5), and 15 min after the end of the stimulation (14.3%; 95% CI: 4.4–24.3) (p < 0.01). The proportion of participants who reported feelings of numbness and heaviness was significantly higher in the active group (46 and 50%, respectively) than in the sham group (8 and 18%, respectively) (p < 0.05). No intergroup differences were observed in the remaining outcome variables. No unexpected adverse effects derived from the electrical stimulation were reported.ConclusionPercutaneous stimulation with HFAC at 30 kHz applied to the median nerve increased the PPT and subjective perception of numbness and heaviness. Future research should evaluate its potential therapeutic effect in people with pain.Clinical trial registrationhttps://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04884932, identifier NCT04884932. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T16:24:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-07f68fc5a24b4459af7eeeff05289d74 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-453X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T16:24:12Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-07f68fc5a24b4459af7eeeff05289d742023-02-09T07:58:23ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neuroscience1662-453X2023-02-011710.3389/fnins.2023.10489861048986Effect of percutaneous electrical stimulation with high-frequency alternating currents at 30 kHz on the sensory-motor systemDavid Martín-Caro ÁlvarezDiego Serrano-MuñozJuan José Fernández-PérezJulio Gómez-SorianoJuan Avendaño-CoyBackgroundUnmodulated high-frequency alternating currents (HFAC) are employed for producing peripheral nerves block. HFAC have been applied in humans with frequencies up to 20 kHz, whether transcutaneously, percutaneously, or via surgically-implanted electrodes. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of percutaneous HFAC, applied with ultrasound-guided needles at 30 kHz, on the sensory-motor nerve conduction of healthy volunteers.MethodsA parallel, double-blind, randomized clinical trial with a placebo control was conducted. Percutaneous HFAC at 30 kHz or sham stimulation was applied via ultrasound-guided needles in 48 healthy volunteers (n = 24 in each group) for 20 min. The assessed outcome variables were pressure pain threshold (PPT), mechanical detection threshold (MDT), maximal finger flexion strength (MFFS), antidromic sensory nerve action potential (SNAP), hand temperature, and subjective sensations by the participants. The measurements were recorded pre-intervention, during the stimulation (at 15 min), immediately post-intervention (at 20 min), and 15 min after the end of treatment.ResultsThe PPT increased in the active group compared with sham stimulation, both during the intervention [14.7%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.4–25.0], immediately post-intervention (16.9%; 95% CI: −7.2–26.5), and 15 min after the end of the stimulation (14.3%; 95% CI: 4.4–24.3) (p < 0.01). The proportion of participants who reported feelings of numbness and heaviness was significantly higher in the active group (46 and 50%, respectively) than in the sham group (8 and 18%, respectively) (p < 0.05). No intergroup differences were observed in the remaining outcome variables. No unexpected adverse effects derived from the electrical stimulation were reported.ConclusionPercutaneous stimulation with HFAC at 30 kHz applied to the median nerve increased the PPT and subjective perception of numbness and heaviness. Future research should evaluate its potential therapeutic effect in people with pain.Clinical trial registrationhttps://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04884932, identifier NCT04884932.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2023.1048986/fullnerve blockhigh-frequency alternating currentspercutaneous electric stimulationperipheral nervesensorimotor function |
| spellingShingle | David Martín-Caro Álvarez Diego Serrano-Muñoz Juan José Fernández-Pérez Julio Gómez-Soriano Juan Avendaño-Coy Effect of percutaneous electrical stimulation with high-frequency alternating currents at 30 kHz on the sensory-motor system Frontiers in Neuroscience nerve block high-frequency alternating currents percutaneous electric stimulation peripheral nerve sensorimotor function |
| title | Effect of percutaneous electrical stimulation with high-frequency alternating currents at 30 kHz on the sensory-motor system |
| title_full | Effect of percutaneous electrical stimulation with high-frequency alternating currents at 30 kHz on the sensory-motor system |
| title_fullStr | Effect of percutaneous electrical stimulation with high-frequency alternating currents at 30 kHz on the sensory-motor system |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of percutaneous electrical stimulation with high-frequency alternating currents at 30 kHz on the sensory-motor system |
| title_short | Effect of percutaneous electrical stimulation with high-frequency alternating currents at 30 kHz on the sensory-motor system |
| title_sort | effect of percutaneous electrical stimulation with high frequency alternating currents at 30 khz on the sensory motor system |
| topic | nerve block high-frequency alternating currents percutaneous electric stimulation peripheral nerve sensorimotor function |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2023.1048986/full |
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